Issue - meetings

Having considered an officer report, presentations by the Deputy Mayor

Councillor Chris Best, a spokesperson for Professor Joan Amin-Addo and

Councillor Coral Howard, the Vice Chair of the Healthier Communities Select

Committee, the Mayor and Cabinet agreed that:

(1) the consultation findings and officer response set out be noted;

(2) the proposal to re-commission the older adult day services currently

provided at Cedar Court, Cinnamon Court and The Calabash Centre as a

single service offer, based on the principles set out be approved;

(3) officers proceed to procure a provider for the service, via the process set

out; and

(4) the proposed response to the Healthier Communities Select Committee be

approved and reported to the Select Committee.

The report was introduced by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Chris Best, who

underlined the Council’s support for Afro-Caribbean communities over many

years. She believed there was some confusion about the proposals and she

stressed the proposed changes would not undermine existing community led

groups and the changes would affect older adults day care services only. This

sector had multiple unused places and the proposal to offer services at one

rather than three locations, would produce savings.

The Cabinet was addressed by a spokeswoman for Professor Joan Amin-

Addo who read out a prepared statement. The statement claimed the EAA

was inadequate in its consideration of racism and said the proposal to

combine three centres was shortsighted.

Councillor Coral Howard presented a written referral from the Healthier

Communities Select Committee. She pointed out the significance of the

Calabash Centre to the BAME population and said evolution rather than

dilution was required.

Councillor Best presented the response to the views of the Healthier

Communities Select Committee and recalled that the decisions had already

been deferred to allow a considered response to be made. She pointed out

that the EAA was in line with statutory obligations and that the Council had a

zero tolerance on racism.

The Mayor indicated he understood the passion involved in objecting to this

proposal but he wished to strongly refute any accusations of racism. He

received confirmation from officers that the Calabash would be the preferred

centre and that there would be no actual reductions in the BAME service. He

concluded that the decisions were unavoidable given the dire austerity regime

in which the Council operated but that if the General Election on December 12

led to a new Government promoting reinvestment, then this and other

decisions could be revisited.

Having considered an officer report, presentations by the Deputy Mayor

Councillor Chris Best, a spokesperson for Professor Joan Amin-Addo and

Councillor Coral Howard, the Vice Chair of the Healthier Communities Select

Committee, the Mayor and Cabinet, for the reasons set out in the report and

rom the options available, by a vote of 8-0,

RESOLVED that:

(1) the consultation findings and officer response set out be noted;

(2) the proposal to re-commission the older adult day services currently

provided at Cedar Court, Cinnamon Court and The Calabash Centre as a

single service offer, based on the principles set out be approved;

(3) officers proceed to procure a provider for the service, via the process set

out; and

(4) the proposed response to the Healthier Communities Select Committee be

approved and reported to the Select Committee.