Issue - meetings
MEIFOD UPDATE
Meeting: 23/11/2021 - Cabinet (Item 6)
To consider a report by Councillor Bobby Feeley, Lead Member for Well-being and Independence (copy enclosed) on the future of Meifod following consideration of the options by relevant stakeholders, the Performance Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish Group and Performance Scrutiny Committee.
Additional documents:
Decision:
RESOLVED that –
(a) Meifod be re-opened as a Council run
service for adults with learning disabilities as soon as it is safe to do so,
following the necessary investment into the existing building/facilities. It was anticipated that the service would be
able to re-open by February 2022, although this could be sooner if works are
completed quickly;
(b) officers to provide options for members
to consider through the established political process on:
·
new ways of working at Meifod to improve learning and
skills across a range of activities, including working with timber
·
alternative service delivery models for the operation at
Meifod with a view to improving the long-term sustainability of the service as
the lease on the building expires in 4 years
(c) officers to establish a stakeholder
group, including representative family members and individuals who attend
Meifod or their advocates to ensure they are fully engaged in the re-opening of
the service along with developing any future options for its operation.
Minutes:
Councillor
Bobby Feeley presented the report on the future of Meifod following consideration
of the options by relevant stakeholders, the Performance Scrutiny Committee
Task and Finish Group and Performance Scrutiny Committee. She also took the opportunity to thank all
those involved in that process for their hard work.
Meifod
was a well-respected work opportunity service for adults with learning
disabilities managed by Community Support Services. It was located in a rented factory unit in
Denbigh producing and selling wood products.
The facility had been closed since March 2020 due to Covid-19 and the
Council had taken the opportunity to consider the future of the facility. All agreed that Meifod was a much valued
service and there was much support to reopen the facility as soon as possible;
it was anticipated that the required works would be completed to reopen Meifod
by February. The current lease ended in
September 2025 which allowed time to promote the facility, introduce
alternative activities and consider new service delivery models to improve its
long-term sustainability given the cost increases associated with providing the
facility. Councillor Feeley added that
at no stage had she or anyone else to her knowledge considered closure of the
facility but agreed changes were needed to improve the offer at Meifod. The intention going forward was to ensure all
interested parties were kept informed about Meifod’s reopening and future plans
including liaison with families of present and future users.
Councillor
Arwel Roberts, Chair of Performance Scrutiny Committee thanked the Task and
Finish Group for their work and reported upon the Committee’s lengthy
discussions and further strengthening of the Task and Finish Group’s
recommendations as detailed in the report, to invest in the service to ensure
its reopening as soon as possible and to safeguard its future and provide a
greater range of activities for service users whilst ensuring future provision
conformed with relevant legislation and the Council’s Welsh Language
policy. He had also been pleased to hear
the views of a parent of one of the service users at the meeting.
Cabinet
noted the recommendations which reflected the conclusions of the Performance
Scrutiny Committee and was pleased to note the positive report to safeguard the
future of Meifod and opportunity to provide a greater range of activities to
make the service more inclusive and encourage more people to use the
service. As local member, Councillor
Mark Young spoke positively about Meifod’s future and along with fellow local
member Councillor Rhys Thomas, asked that they be kept abreast of reopening
plans and any future changes to the facility and also offered their support to
officers in communicating with families using the service and future users. Councillor Bobby Feeley reiterated plans to
ensure all interested parties be kept informed and to liaise with the families
of present and future users. In response
to further questions officers gave an update on the works to be undertaken
prior to reopening of the facility and assurances were provided that all
endeavours would be made to ensure the facility reopened as soon as
possible. In response to a suggestion
from Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts regarding the potential reference to
‘Meifod Services’ in the recommendations, Councillor Feeley confirmed she was
happy with the current recommendations as per the report.
The Leader invited questions from non-Cabinet members. Whilst there was broad support for the report recommendations, questions were raised regarding the need to diversify into other areas given the previous success of Meifod with concerns that the skills base would be diluted or lost, and the reasoning behind the reduction in referrals to the facility and plans to increase uptake ... view the full minutes text for item 6