Agenda item

Joint report

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services and the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration considered a report which sought authority to relocate the Council’s service known as “The Pod” which is currently operating out of 1 Lamb Street into 31 Far Gosford Street which was owned by a third party landlord.

The Pod currently operated from a property leased by the City Council at 1 Lamb Street and played an important role in supporting adults with severe or enduring mental ill health to re-engage with their community and access new opportunities. A significant percentage of people referred to the Pod had dual diagnosis having issues relating to misuse of alcohol and/or drugs alongside their mental ill health. The service was joint funded by the City Council and Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group and was successful in supporting people to become independent of services thereby reducing demand across health and social care.

Although operating on an appointment basis, The Pod also delivered a café from within 1 Lamb Street that was open to the general public and further assisted in facilitating community links for adults with mental ill-health through specific initiatives including Food Union and Time Bank (both award winning citywide schemes).

The Council currently had a 10 year lease of 1 Lamb Street, which would expire on 28 September 2017. Due to the high property running costs, it was the Council’s intention not to renew the lease and to relocate the services currently in 1 Lamb Street to alternative locations. This would deliver long term revenue cost savings to the Council.

This potential for relocation provided a positive opportunity for the further development of The POD.  A more accessible and visible location should improve footfall to the café whilst retaining accessibility for people accessing the service who rely mainly on public transport.  A location on Far Gosford Street would also enable the links between the Pod and Fargo Village to be enhanced.

The nature of the service provided required alternative accommodation to be of a size that could accommodate a café area for 40+ people with space for a commercial and a training kitchen.  Due to these specific requirements options for relocation had been limited.

A corresponding private report detailing confidential financial matters was also submitted for consideration (Minute 6 below refers).

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member for Adult Services:

(1)  Approve the relocation of the Pod from 1 Lamb Street to 31 Far Gosford Street.

(2)  Agree to receive an update by way of an informal Briefing note in 12 months to review the relocation of The Pod if officers deem it necessary.

That the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration:

(3)  Approve the Council taking a 10 year lease of 31 Far Gosford Street on the terms outlined in this report to facilitate the relocation of the Pod from 1 Lamb Street.

(4)   Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) to conclude the agreement of the terms of the lease of 31 Far Gosford Street.

(5)  Agree that all properties where the Council is tenant under a lease are kept under review in order to continuously monitor revenue costs and ensure value for money.