Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Social Care Item

20 September 2002

Solent Mead - Extension and Refurbishment of Day Centre

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1.

Summary

1.1

At the April 2001 meeting of the Adults' Services Sub-Committee Members approved a building design project appraisal for the reorganisation and refurbishment of the existing residential accommodation at Solent Mead Home for Older People. The refurbishment project formed part of the second phase of works in the Older Person Homes Reinvestment Strategy and with a contract value of £986,000 the project is due for completion during January 2003.

1.2

At the request of the Director of Social Services a feasibility study, for the extension and refurbishment of the Day Centre, which occupies part of the existing building, was developed alongside the refurbishment and reorganisation of the residential home.

1.3

At the November 2001 meeting of the Executive Member - Policy and Resources a progress report and financial summary of all the projects in the Older Persons Reinvestment Strategy was approved. At that time funding of £250,000, excluding fees, was allocated to extend the Day Centre from the overall funding of £7.1m and this scheme forms part of the third phase of works in the Older Persons Homes Reinvestment Strategy.

1.4

The purpose of this report is to outline the proposals to extend and refurbish the existing Day Centre and seek approval to the attached building design project appraisal.

2.

Scope of the Works

2.1

It is proposed to extend the existing building on the north west elevation to provide an enlarged Day Centre. There are currently three garages in this area which will be demolished to make way for the proposed new extension. The extension will adjoin the existing building by a flat roofed link and the single storey extension, with a pitched roof, will provide the additional accommodation.

2.2

The new accommodation will comprise a lounge, dining / craft room, new main entrance with lobby / waiting area, office, Accessible WCs, cloaks and storage. A folding partition will divide the lounge and dining room to allow the two rooms to be used as one large area. The new main entrance to the Day Centre will have automated double glazed doors.

2.3

The existing accommodation which occupies the northern end of the residential building will be reorganised to provide a kitchen, quiet room, accessible bathroom, accessible WCs and stores.

2.4

As part of these proposals a small enclosed area will be created to the very north of the site by extending the existing paving adjacent to the dining / quiet room and erecting retaining posts to the slope at the rear of the accommodation.

2.5

The existing access road that serves the residential unit and the Day Centre will be retained and a bus turning / parking area will be established to the very north west of the site, adjacent to the new main entrance. A new pedestrian pathway will be created around the western elevation of the residential unit. This will segregate vehicles from pedestrians and provide safe passage to the main entrance of the Day Centre. Five new car parking bays will be included in this scheme to replace those which will be lost due to the new extension. A total of seventeen spaces, twelve existing and five new, will serve the residential unit and Day Centre.

3.

Procurement

3.1

It is intended that the Day Centre extension be negotiated with Brazier Construction, the contractor currently undertaking the refurbishment work at the residential home. This contractor is progressing well with the current scheme and has a good working knowledge of the site and the specialist requirements for working at this particular establishment. This approach will provide continuity, will enable price and cost certainty at an early stage and will prevent two contractors working on the site at the same time.

4.

Funding and Timing

4.1

A budget allocation of £250,000, excluding fees, for a new Day Centre was added to the reinvestment strategy in the third quarter 2000. The project is now sufficiently defined to enable the scheme to be costed for the first time and for the attached design project appraisal to be prepared. In order to accommodate the brief and take account of inflation the scheme is now estimated to cost £295,000, excluding fees, which can be accommodated within the Reinvestment Strategy.

4.2

It is anticipated that work will commence on site during October 2002 and be completed during April 2003.

Conclusion

These proposals will provide much improved facilities for the service users of the Lymington area and will realise the completion of upgraded residential and Day Centre accommodation at Solent Mead. Approval is accordingly sought to the attached building design project appraisal.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined on the Act.

TITLE FILE

Building Management System reports Project Management

Architects plans Information File. PBRS

Adult Service Sub-Committee reports