Agenda item

To receive a report/presentation on the development of the Reardon Court Extra Care Housing Scheme.

The Chair introduced this item and summarized the grant funding received to date. The GLA grant allocation requires a start on site by March 2021.

1)    The Cabinet Member gave an overview of the extra care housing service which will enable independence, choice and control. This will, in turn, reduce demand on adult social care services and provide good quality housing in the borough.

2)    The presentation given highlighted that Enfield has a growing population, people are living longer but not always in the best of health.   

3)    Prior to the pandemic, the numbers of people going into residential care had risen considerably in the past year. It is projected that 1780 older people will be living in residential care by 2025.

4)    Extra care housing is an enhanced form of sheltered housing which offers accessible, flexibly designed self- contained accommodation with tenancy rights and 24-hour care.

5)    This form of housing provision can prevent support and care needs escalating. It maximises the emotional, physical and mental wellbeing of residents, who are able to maintain social and support networks.

6)    Good design is very important to enable the benefits of the service to be maximised. Reardon Court will be a development of 91 accessible homes (81 x 1 bed flats, 10 x 2 bed flats) with the design being considerate of the support and care requirements of individuals.

7)    The emphasis of the scheme will be to promote social interaction, involvement and healthy, active aging.

8)    The facilities will include a communal lounge, allotment space, hairdressing salon, laundry room, a library and IT suite acting as a cinema and a roof garden.

9)    Demolition will commence at the end of 2020, construction will begin in March 2021, with completion targeted for 2023/24, however this will be dependent on any future lockdown periods.

Following the presentation, the Chair asked members for any questions or comments.

10) In response to a question, it was confirmed that Adult Social Care officers are consulted when new housing schemes are being developed to ensure need is addressed.

11)When a large house is under-occupied, the most appropriate alternative accommodation must be available to offer, to allow the best use of properties, especially for family use.

12)A comment was made relating to the development of the Skinners Court in Palmers Green. Although this was funded externally, the scheme has been a great success and an excellent example of extra care housing.

13)The Chair noted that It will be important for the Scrutiny Panel to monitor the delivery of the Reardon Court scheme and reiterated that the GLA funding would be withdrawn if work doesn’t commence on site in March next year.

14)Following a question relating to increased costs of the scheme of approximately 16%, it was confirmed that this was reported to Full Council. As a result of fly-tipping and arson on site, security costs have increased.

15)A comment was noted that management costs within extra care housing can be problematic as they are highly expensive schemes. Queries were raised in relation to operational and revenue costs and it was agreed that the Chair would write to the Director of Health and Adult Social Care for further clarification.

                                                              ACTION: Cllr Smith/Bindi Nagra