Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Healthy Lifestyles

RESOLVED THAT

1.    The Council’s Shopmobility service be decommissioned and not reopened;

2.    A comprehensive communications plan be implemented to make affected customers aware of the change and where they can find alternative support;

3.    A comprehensive communications plan be implemented to ensure savings realised from the change are used to support the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.

The Cabinet Member Healthy Lifestyles presented the report, which outlined the reasons for ceasing Shopmobility operations.

She noted that there had been both an options appraisal and community impact statement. The report outlined the significant cost of the scheme in detail, which had been made even worse with no income coming in – the service having been closed since 18^th March. Even before Covid, it cost up to £97k per year to operate, and never brought in more than £6k. She asked that Cabinet Members endorse the recommendations to decommission the service.

The Cabinet Member Clean and Green Environment drew attention to the executive summary, which referred to mobility scooters costing as little as £450 to buy. He stressed that this was not a small amount of money, but acknowledged that there was charitable support available to those who could not afford it. He stressed that the closure of Shopmobility was clearly not a decision that was taken lightly.

The Cabinet Member Finance agreed that it was one of many difficult decisions needed due to Covid. She emphasised that the council did not intend to disenfranchise anyone who needed the service, but rather to reconsider value for money in a difficult financial situation. The service was used by a small group of people who could be supported in other ways

The Cabinet Member Cyber and Safety echoed his colleagues’ points, stressing that it was a refocusing of funds rather than a cancellation. He noted that usage of the service had halved anyway, even pre-Covid.

The Leader added that it had been a valuable service, but noted that there were now genuine alternatives towards which people could be directed. He moved to the vote, which was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    The Council’s Shopmobility service be decommissioned and not reopened;

2.    A comprehensive communications plan be implemented to make affected customers aware of the change and where they can find alternative support;

3.    A comprehensive communications plan be implemented to ensure savings realised from the change are used to support the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.