Agenda item

The Director of Health and Wellbeing presented the submitted report in respect of the closure of the Millennium Day Centre, the impact of service delivery and the way forward for this service over the next year.  The report also set out proposals for the relocation of the Talking Newspaper Service to alternative premises by April, 2010.

The Millennium Day Centre relocated to Parklea as a result of the closure of the substantive worksite on the 22^nd December 2009.  The relocation had been successfully undertaken despite some limitations with the building for delivering rehabilitative services.  The Learning Disability Services were due to vacate the premises by the end of February, 2010, which would enable the rehabilitation service to be delivered in accordance with the service level agreement and specification set out by the Joint Commissioning Team. 

The NHS Rotherham Capital Board had indicated that they were prepared to release £300,000 in capital funds to assist with the upgrade of the Millennium Day Centre subject to remedial works being completed by the Local Authority on the water and the heating at a cost of £125,000.  To date no schedule of dilapidations had been served on the Council.  The schedule of dilapidations would set out the remedial requirements that the Council may be liable for under the terms of the lease.

The circumstances in relation to the lease arrangements for the Millennium Centre and the Talking Newspaper tenancy were as follows:-

• The RMBC lease of the Millennium Day Centre will expire on 31^st March 2010.
• The Talking Newspaper occupied this centre based on a licence that coincided with the above leasing arrangements.
• Talking Newspaper’s occupation of the premises ceases on 30^th March 2010; although it was not a requirement to give them official notice, it was felt that it would be courteous to do so.
• The Talking Newspaper had a legal right to remain in occupation until 30^th March, 2010.  The room they occupied had been specially adapted to enable them to function, including a separate recording studio that was sound proofed and additional electrical sockets had been installed to enable them to deliver their core business.  Any move to another building would take up to 2-3 months to facilitate, at an indicative cost of around £15,000.
• It was proposed that they remained in occupation of the rooms at the Millennium Centre until 30^th March, 2010 and a decision was made on their future; they had been advised to use bottled water and toilet facilities had been made available for them at the adjacent Breathing Space building. 
• This would provide them some security for the centre until it was handed back to the NHS/PCT officially in March, 2010 and any heating and rental cost would be offset against any potential relocation costs for moving the Talking Newspapers operation with immediate effect.
• Weekly checks had been put in place to review the situation and to ensure that the building was maintained and we meet out obligations under the lease.

Discussion took place on the possible availability of alternative premises which might be suitable as permanent accommodation for the Taking Newspaper in the future. It was noted that the release of appropriate funds was first required to facilitate the relocation of this service by the beginning of April, 2010.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the action taken in respect of the closure of the Millennium Day Centre, as now reported, be noted.

(3) That, subject to approval being obtained for the release of the appropriate funding and capital requirements, the relocation of the Talking Newspaper service from the Millennium Day Centre to the alternative premises now discussed, by the beginning of April, 2010, be agreed.

(4) That, subject to the satisfactory outcome of the relocation referred to at (3) above, arrangements be made for an official opening of the Talking Newspaper’s new premises.