Council invites views on closing adult day centres

A council has outlined plans to close four adult social care day centres to save £5.3m over the next two years.

Birmingham City Council is asking for people's views over reducing its nine centres, which supports people with disabilities and the elderly, to five.

Councillor Rob Pocock, cabinet member for health and social care, said services would be "consolidated" and there would be no job losses.

According to council documents, the centres support a total of 426 people, with an annual budget of £11.35m.

Other options considered by the council are to do nothing, refurbish the centres to current standards, or close them all.

The authority said it had not made any decisions and has invited public views before the consultation closes on 9 July.

It faces significant financial challenges, with adult social care alone needing to deliver £65m savings over the next two years.

The centres require "significant investment", consultation documents said, and there are currently 70 staff vacancies.

Documents also highlight falling attendance since the pandemic, with an average of 294 using the centres in January 2024 compared to 410 four years earlier.

The authority's preferred option is to close Beeches Goldd, in Great Barr, Harborne centre in Quinton, Heartlands in Nechells and Fairway in Kings Norton.

Under this proposal, users and staff would transfer to Alderman Bowen in Bordesley Green, Ebrook in Sutton Coldfield, Elwood in Erdington, Hockley centre and Moseley centre.

The plan would save £1.95m in 2024/2025 and a further £3.35m in 2025/2026, through fewer staff vacancies, the release of assets and a reduction in running costs, the council said.

"We remain committed to ensuring that no citizens would lose their service, nor staff their jobs, but [that] may mean that the support would be provided from a different centre," Mr Pocock said.

He added a review of the provision after the pandemic found it to be valued, but with a need for improvements.

"The proposals for the service, in addition to delivering savings, is to develop a more flexible, person-centred offer that reflects our key outcomes and principles," Mr Pocock said.

The council will be holding meetings for service users and carers in the day centres and across the city in coming weeks.

Its cabinet is set to make a decision in September.

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