The Council is being asked to agree that the private sector design and manage the new Lowfields Care Village in Acomb
A lot of interest was expressed in the plan which was first announced when the Council was under Liberal Democrat control in 2010. The aspiration then was to produce something like the Hartrigg Oaks development on the other side of the City which is run by the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust. (see http://tinyurl.com/Hartrigg-Oaks)
The accommodation and facilities will be designed in such a way as to encourage a two way interaction between the care village and the wider community. Care Village residents will access the wide range of services and facilities nearby (e.g. local shops, Acomb Explore Library, Energise Leisure Centre) and, likewise, while the wider community will be encouraged to access the care village site (e.g. for a community cafe, community garden/allotments).
The Council would nominate tenants for the 90 registered care beds. 25% of the homes planned for the site would be “affordable”.
Councils cost projections
A report to a Council “Cabinet” meeting on 15th May suggests that the development could pay for itself over a 25 year period. However the opportunity to run other homes like the new ones at Fordlands and Haxby Hall using independent providers seems likely to be lost.
So effectively the Council has still not identified a comprehensive, long term financial strategy for dealing with the increasing numbers of elderly people whom we will see in the City. The main reductions in costs comparing the private sector with the Council are in wage rates. Some care workers a couple of years ago got big pay rises as a result of a job evaluation exercise which in turn has led to reduced job security. However existing employees would be entitled to transfer to work for a new management contractor while retaining their existing conditions of service.
The Council sees the accommodation on the Lowfield site being for people aged 65 years+. The accommodation on site will range from completely independent living, to extra care accommodation, through to residential care, including dementia and nursing care.
Whilst many residents may not have any immediate care needs on arrival, the village accommodation would be configured for people to be able to access care as required. This would mean, for instance, that all of the accommodation would be built “care ready” with minimal work required to install care technology or aids and adaptations. All accommodation will have good access, wide doorways, en-suite facilities, and be designed in such a way that it can easily be adapted if the resident’s care needs change. All of the accommodation on site will have the option of being ‘linked up’ 24/7 to the Care Home/Centre should assistance be required.
Threat to green space at Lowfields
Unfortunately the council report also repeats the threat to build on the remaining sports pitches and grassed area at Lowfields. In previous consultations residents have said that some “breathing space” is needed in the area and we tend to agree with them.
The report says, “The whole Lowfield site covers 13 acres. The Care Village will occupy the six acre site that was previously occupied by Lowfield School. The remaining seven acres are currently green field but, longer term (subject to the successful relocation of the two football pitches) there is the possible option of further development. In considering the six acre site, the council needs to be mindful of the possibilities offered by a second phase to the development. For example, it will need to ensure that the care village’s infrastructure (i.e. access, roads, drainage, electrical sub-stations) is sufficient to ‘serve’ the seven acres should that be developed at a later stage”.
We think that the council’s plans for the Lowfields Care Village part of the site are broadly correct.
Public service standards in Acomb are declining though and facilities like the – easy access- ftr bus which would have served the Lowfields area have already disappeared. It is essential that the Council casts off its policy of minimal consultation on its policy plans and involves the local community in the further development of its proposals for Lowfields.
The full Council report can be found on their web site at http://tinyurl.com/York-15th-May-2012