Issue - meetings

The Executive Advisory Board (EAB) was invited to consider the mandate in respect of the Shawfield Road Site, Ash.

The Council previously had two purpose-built day centres providing care and support services for elderly residents, namely, The Hive at Park Barn in northern Guildford and the Shawfield Day Centre in Ash.  Following a consultation exercise, a decision had been reached to consolidate day care services at The Hive, with clients of the Shawfield Day Centre being transferred to the former.  With the improved facilities and services available at The Hive and by consolidating staffing, it was considered that clients would receive improved support and care whilst the decision also generated financial savings to the Council as part of its Savings Strategy.

Following the transfer of all day care services to The Hive, the Shawfield Road site was no longer required for its former purposes and had remained unutilised for approximately two years.  The mandate considered options for future alternative uses of the site.  However, it was noted that there was a charge on the title of the land requiring it to be used as a 'day centre' and this would have implications in respect of the viability and feasibility of some options.  The charge was the result of an NHS agency contributing £280,000 towards the construction of the day centre and could form part of the basis of the valuation for a removal of the charge, which gave the NHS an entitlement to 60% of any sale of the site, including the rental income from an associated lease.

The mandate addressed the following areas:

·             Introduction

·             Strategy

·             Options Evaluation

·             Considerations

·             Resources

·             Potential costs to proceed to the next stage to develop the Strategic Outline Case

·             Issues, Assumptions and Risks

·             Dependencies, Constraints and Opportunities

·             Next Steps

·             Reviewer List

The Options Evaluation identified the following five potential strategic options to deliver a solution:

1.           Leave the site and premises vacant.

2.           Redevelop the site for affordable housing.

3.           Redevelop the site for alternative uses such as key worker or extra-care housing (including discussions with other health and social care providers).

4.           Explore options for potential community uses of the site.

5.           Sell the site.

Options 2-4 would be subject to successful negotiation and resolution of issues relating to the charge on the title of the site involving the relevant NHS agency, which may have a financial cost.

Having considered the mandate at its meeting held on 2 March 2022, the Executive / Management Team Liaison Group expressed a preference for the options relating to redevelopment of the site for affordable housing or to meet other housing needs, such as key worker or extra-care housing.  Community use of the site was also felt to be an acceptable option, subject to there being a demonstrable need for community facilities in Ash and there being no ongoing costs to the Council.

The following points arose from related questions, comments and discussion for forwarding to the Executive:

a)           A councillor expressed the view that there had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64