Decision details

Councillor D Flude had declared a personal interest in this item.

Consideration was given to the closure of Cypress House, Handforth, and to the future planning and delivery of services for people with dementia.  The report consolidated work carried out so far and pointed the way for the future planning and delivery of these services, especially the model within the Council’s provider Care4CE.  The decisions requested would sustain the transformational momentum in Adult Services and contribute to the wider development of commissioning, provision and delivery within the Council.

It was stressed that the closure of Cypress House would not result in any reduction of services available, but was based on a rationalisation of building use where it did not impact upon the range and volume of service provided. 

Cabinet was asked to note the following amendments to the report: -

• the wording in para 9(i) (Wider Building Review) had been amended to read ’and future services are supplied from the former’. 
• the recommendation in para 2.3 of the report had been deleted as it had been included in error.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report, and as now reported: -

That agreement be given : -

1. To the closure of Cypress House based on the results of discussions with service users and their carers and noting that services currently provided on the site are available and nobody who qualifies will be denied a service.

2. That, Cypress House be declared surplus to requirements and that it be sold on the open market if not required for Cheshire East Council.

3. To complete further work to progress the business case to develop two further sites, one in Macclesfield and one in Congleton to deliver the Dementia model jointly with Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust, with a next report anticipated for Cabinet in October this year.

4. To the rationalisation of building use where this does not impact upon the range and volume of service provided to enable additional capital receipts to be added to support progress with the Living with Dementia strategy.

5. To recognise that Care4CE has reduced its cost base, rationalised its structure and purpose in line with Cabinet decisions and budget requirements and should now explore securing further commercial freedom to assist its development as an asset to Cheshire East Council.