Agenda item

Cabinet agreed a supplementary estimate of £100,000 to fund Age UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to provide continuity of service to the 11 South Cambridgeshire Mobile and Community Warden Schemes during 2024-25.

Councillor John Williams, Lead Cabinet Member for Resources, introduced the report and moved the recommendations. In so doing, he advised that mobile warden schemes were typically run by national organisations, such as Age UK, although the Council had supported local schemes run by parish councils. A review of schemes in place across the district was planned to determine efficiency. Age UK had informed the Council that funding for the scheme had been lost and the service would cease without financial support. This support was suggested for 12 months, with further consideration following the outcome of a review.

The recommendations were seconded by Councillor Handley.

Cabinet Members raised the following points during consideration of the report:

·       It was noted that the Council was in regular contact with parish councils and would be encouraging contribution and involvement as part of the review.

·       Members felt that those parish councils that ran such schemes were well managed.

·       A final report would be received following the review that would set out the social return on investment of such schemes, learning from existing schemes, and best practice.

Non-Cabinet Members raised the following points during consideration of the report:

·       Comment was made that it would be useful to understand how Age UK came to be in this position.

Resolution

Cabinet agreed a supplementary estimate of £100,000 to fund Age UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to provide continuity of service to the 11 South Cambridgeshire Mobile and Community Warden Schemes during 2024-25.

Options Considered

·       Agree to fund Age UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough with an additional £99,965 to provide continuity of service to the 11 South Cambridgeshire Mobile and Community Warden Schemes in 2024-25.

·       Agree to allow Age UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to use the Council’s previously approved £64,435 grant for 2024-25 to continue to deliver Mobile and Community Warden services to the areas they assess as most viable.

·       Agree an alternative additional grant amount to Age UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, giving reasons, to provide continuity of service to named South Cambridgeshire Mobile and Community Warden Schemes in the 2024-25 period.

·       Defer a decision ask officers for further specific information. This option would result in a likely disruption to services and potential staffing difficulties as Wardens have been placed at risk of redundancy.

Reasons for Decision

MCWS offer a lifeline to older residents in South Cambridgeshire and to their families and carers. It was well-known that there were benefits to keeping older people living independently in their own homes in the communities they know. MCWSs offered a relatively low-cost opportunity for some older people to maintain their independence; offering an opportunity for social contact, falls prevention, medication assessment, respite and relief for carers and families and, in some cases, the opportunity to expedite discharge from hospital which reduces bed-blocking. This resulted in improved health and wellbeing for residents and was likely to save greater costs in other parts of the health system. The review being carried out by Rose Regeneration was expected to provide more data to demonstrate the value-for-money of the schemes and make recommendations for how schemes can become more self-sustaining.