Issue - meetings

To consider a report by Councillor Bobby Feeley, Lead Member for Well-being and Independence (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet approval to release the previously agreed £5m capital funding to contribute to the building of phase 2 Llys Awelon Extra Care Housing in partnership with Grwp Cynefin.

Vote taken: 8 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       confirms it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 2 to the report) as part of its consideration, and

(b)       approves the release of the previously agreed £5m capital funding to contribute to the building of phase 2 Llys Awelon Extra Care Housing.

Councillor Bobby Feeley presented the report seeking approval to release the previously agreed £5m capital funding to contribute to the building of phase 2 Llys Awelon Extra Care Housing in partnership with Grwp Cynefin.

In 2010 the Council had jointly commissioned a 21 Unit Extra Care facility with Grwp Cynefin which adjoined Awelon Care Home.  The Care Home and Canolfan Awelon had closed in 2020 in preparation for the second phase of the scheme consisting of 35 additional units.  The existing lease for phase 1 of the development would be terminated and a new long term lease would be issued to Grwp Cynefin for the whole site.  The development would be taking an environmentally sustainable approach with a view to achieving a BREEM Excellence rating.  The project would generate savings in the community care budgets and details of the cost benefit of the £5m investment had been included as an appendix to the report.

Councillor Bobby Feeley explained the delay in progressing the project due to Covid-19 and was pleased to now be in a position to proceed with the development.  Councillor Emrys Wynne asked that the reference within the Well-being Impact Assessment (WIA) to Welsh first language be removed given that Grwp Cynefin operated through the medium of Welsh and were fully bilingual.  In response to that request and other comments the Lead Member and Head of Community Support Services agreed to change the Welsh Language reference in the WIA as requested; confirmed the food and mealtime arrangements for residents, and noted that whilst there were plans to relocate the clinic on Mount Road there was another larger surgery close by and the town had excellent health care facilities.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       confirms it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix 2 to the report) as part of its consideration, and

(b)       approves the release of the previously agreed £5m capital funding to contribute to the building of phase 2 Llys Awelon Extra Care Housing.