Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Social Care Commissioning (SCC/16/52) on the future of Compass House Crèche, attached. 

(Councillors Greenslade, Hannan and Westlake attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered a Report, requested previously, from the Head of Adult Care and Health Commissioning examining the issues relating to the future of the Compass House Crèche in light of the earlier considerations of the People’s Scrutiny Committee’s (Minute 13 thereof refers) and alternative arrangements made by the Devon Partnership Trust for the provision of childcare support to patients (supported by appropriate transitional arrangements). In the Cabinet Member and Head of Service’s view, these arrangements would provide an acceptable, alternative, personalised approach for those accessing the Depression & Anxiety Service, based on relevant  clinical judgements and assessments. The Head of Service had also circulated usage figures for the Crèche for September 2016 which provided further evidence of the low usage of the facility, as previously attested. 

The Cabinet was required to reconsider the matter now and in the light of the Scrutiny Committee’s views and could either amend or adopt the Cabinet Member’s original decision, which would then be implemented with immediate effect.

The Head of Service’s Report also incorporated an updated Impact Assessment relating to the possible impacts of the proposal, which had been circulated previously for the attention of Members at this meeting in order that as part of its determination of the next steps in the process the Cabinet might have full regard to the responsibilities placed upon it to exercise its Public Sector Equality Duty, under s149 of the Equality Act 2010, where relevant.  That Assessment acknowledged that the proposed closure of the Crèche would be broadly neutral given the proposed arrangements and methodology to support service users in obtaining alternative appropriate childcare arrangements, sensitive to their needs. Cabinet Members acquiesced in the view that the revised arrangements now outlined by the Devon Partnership Trust provided adequate mitigation against the closure of the Crèche.

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability, carbon impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact) set out in the Head of Service’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor Clatworthy, and unanimously

RESOLVED that in light of the additional assurances received by Devon Partnership Trust, the continued low usage of the crèche and the revised assessment of equality impacts, the Cabinet reaffirm the Cabinet Member’s decision and approve the closure of the Compass House Crèche, with immediate effect.

[NB: The Impact Assessment referred to above may be viewed alongside Minutes of this meeting and may also be available at:  http://new.devon.gov.uk/impact/].