Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area:

1.1. This report sets out the capital investment priorities for the Adult Services Older Persons' Residential Care Estate and seeks approval to implement the programme of enhancement and improvement work identified to be undertaken in 2009/10 including:

· Fire precaution improvements at six older persons' care homes

· Refurbishment of Copper Beeches Older Persons' Home (OPH), Andover

· Enabling works at Cherry Orchard to facilitate a decanting strategy for Copper Beeches, and fire precaution improvements

1.2 The Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services has progressed the design of the proposed scheme at Copper Beeches OPH in Andover and this report also seeks approval to the proposals.

2) Issues Covered in Report:

The following areas are outlined in this report:

2.1 The proposed programme of fire precaution improvements at six Older Persons' Care Homes.

2.2 Refurbishment proposals for Copper Beeches OPH, including estimated costs and sources of funding.

2.3 Enabling works and fire precaution improvements at Cherry Orchard OPH.

2.4 Any significant issues from either the Risk or Combined Impact Assessment which will need to have specific attention in the design or implementation of the Copper Beeches OPH.

2.5 The detail of the proposed improvement works at the Copper Beeches OPH is laid out for approval.

2 Recommendations:

That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Policy and Resources:

3.1 That the programme of fire precaution improvements at the following Older Persons' Care (OPH) Homes, at an estimated total cost of £500,000, be approved:


· Cornerways, Kings Worthy

· Nightingale Lodge, Romsey

· Thurlston House, Fleet

3.2 That the programme of fire precaution improvements at the following Older Persons' Care Homes, at an estimated total cost of £500,000, be approved (subject to the Adult Services Department's final settlement of accounts for 2008/09):


· Bulmer House, Petersfield

· Addenbrooke, Gosport

· Cranleigh Paddock, Lyndhurst


3.3 That the proposals for fire precaution and other improvement works at Copper Beeches OPH, Andover, at an estimated total cost of £1,806,000, (including fees of £256,000) be approved.

3.4 That the improvement proposals and fire precaution works at Cherry Orchard, at a total estimated cost of £200,000, approved under delegated powers by the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services (Minor Works report dated 27 January 2009), be endorsed.

MAIN REPORT

1) Scope of Work:

1.1 The proposal is to implement the following programme of enhancement and improvement works in 2009/10

i) Fire precaution improvements to achieve a benchmark standard (in line with County Council programmes and projects in recent years) at three OPH's including:


· Cornerways, Kings Worthy

· Nightingale Lodge, Romsey

· Thurlston House, Fleet


ii) Fire precaution improvements to achieve a benchmark standard at three OPH's, subject to the Adult Services' Department's final settlement of accounts for 2008/09:

· Bulmer House, Petersfield

· Addenbrooke, Gosport

· Cranleigh Paddock, Lyndhurst


iii) Major refurbishment of the home at Copper Beeches, Andover to include fire precaution improvements and the installation of a sprinkler system and other improvements as detailed in this report.


iv) Enabling works at Cherry Orchard, Andover, including fire precaution improvements and other adjustments to facilitate the decanting of residents from Copper Beeches for the duration of the refurbishment works.

2) Contextual Information:

2.1. Following the introduction of the new Care Standards in 2000, the ENHANCE programme through 2003-2006 delivered significant improvements across seven older persons' residential homes, including the introduction of sprinklers and the establishment of a benchmark standard. Subsequent investment in the homes at Malmesbury Lawn and Bishop's Waltham House has added to the core properties within the older persons' residential care estate meeting this enhanced standard.


2.2. An Adult Services Workstream Group consisting of Property and Adult Services staff has been formed to progress a co-ordinated capital investment strategy to continue this programme of enhancement and reduction of risk across the older persons' estate. A report to the Executive Member for Adult Social Care on 27 March 2009 details the proposed capital investment strategy.

2.3. The highest priority under the Fire and Arson Corporate Risk Assessment is the reduction of risk in the older persons' residential estate through the installation of structural fire precautions to meet current legislation standards (as opposed to standards that applied at the time of their construction).


2.4. The refurbishment at Copper Beeches is part of an initiative to upgrade older persons' residential care homes to the benchmark standard set by ENHANCE. The proposed scheme will improve safety, maximise wellbeing and enhance the quality of place for all users of the home by improving both fire safety and accommodation.


2.5. Copper Beeches currently provides dementia care for up to 41 residents. As a result of the improvement works, the number of beds will reduce to 36. Since the home will remain operational during the contract period a decanting strategy has been developed involving the nearby home at Cherry Orchard to facilitate refurbishment in a safe and managed way. Prior to works commencing at Copper Beeches, enabling works will be carried out at Cherry Orchard to improve fire safety and adjustments to provide accommodation for dementia care.

2.6. On 29 January 2009 the Executive Member for Policy and Resources approved the appointment of a Tier 2 contractor from the IESE Framework to deliver the projects at Copper Beeches and Cherry Orchard. It is proposed to use a contractor from the Tier 3 Framework to deliver the fire precaution improvements.

3) Finance:

3.1. Capital Expenditure:

a) The following tables outlines the breakdown and distribution for the overall programme and for the refurbishment works at Copper Beeches:

3.2. Sources of Funding:

a) Building Cost for Copper Beeches:

Net/gross cost = it is not appropriate to quote net/gross costs for a refurbishment project

b) Furniture & Equipment:

Will be purchased from the Adult Services Capital Programme block allocation for 2009/10.

3.3. Revenue Issues:

a) Overview of Revenue Implications:

Project Appraisal for Copper Beeches:

4) Energy Costs:

The estimated annual energy consumption for the new accommodation will meet that required by current Building Regulations.

5) Risk & Impact Issues:

Please see Appendix B for a summary of the risk and impact issues considered in relation to the design of this project.

6) Details of site and existing Infrastructure:

Copper Beeches is an existing Older Persons Home, located at Woodlands Way, London Road, Andover, and lies within a residential area. The building is of traditional, load bearing masonry construction and dates from the 1960's.

7) Scope of the Project:

7.1 The refurbishment works at Copper Beeches will comprise:


· structural fire precaution improvements, including the construction of a new fire escape staircase enclosure

· installation of a sprinkler system, including new external storage tank and all distribution pipework, pumps, controls, etc

· upgrading of existing mechanical services installations, including new boilers, pipework and controls, and provision of new gas supply to the boilers and overhaul/replacement of hot and cold water distribution pipework and controls

· replacement of remaining obsolete electrical distribution switchgear and replacement of light fittings where ceilings are affected by works

· replacement of existing metal windows, doors and screens

· external and internal redecoration, plus renewal of ceiling and floor finishes

· refurbishment and reconfiguration of bathrooms, toilets and sluice rooms

· alterations to form enlarged bedrooms for high-dependency needs

· refurbishment and reconfiguration to create additional group living environments

· general improvements and alterations to assist operation of home and provision of dementia care, including main entrance area alterations which will improve security.


7.2 It is anticipated that the scheme will commence on site during June 2009 and be completed by Easter 2010.

7.3 Advance enabling works at Cherry Orchard will commence during April 2009 to facilitate Adult Services' decant strategy.

7.4 Adult Services have confirmed they can sustain decanting arrangements to meet this programme.

8) The Proposed Building:

The significant part of the refurbishment work will be internal, but small extensions/new structures are proposed as follows:

· An outbuilding to house the new sprinkler tank and pump room will be located close to the west boundary of the site, near the existing main laundry area. The pump room will be a single storey brick structure with a flat roof. This and the tank will be enclosed by new fencing.

· A new fire escape staircase and enclosure will be located within the existing central courtyard area. The roof will be formed as a continuation of the existing pitched roof slope in matching materials. The structure will principally be of lightweight construction with elevations part timber-clad and part-tile hung to complement the existing building. The location has been determined through the fire risk assessment process.

9) External Works:

External works will include the making good only where existing hard and soft landscaping are affected by new structures. The parking area outside the existing Day Centre will be used as a contractor's compound and may need to be locally resurfaced at completion.

10) Planning:

Any necessary planning consents for this scheme have been approved.

11) Building Management:

Existing arrangements will apply to cleaning, catering, local management and maintenance arrangements.

12) Professional Resources:

Architectural Services - PBRS, Project Services

Quantity Surveying - Grant Associates

Mechanical Engineering - White:Young:Green

Electrical Engineering - White:Young:Green

Structural Engineering - PBRS, Project Services

13) Consultations:

The following have been consulted during the development of this project and their feedback can be seen in overview in Appendix A.


· Executive Member for Adult Social Care

· BLaPP

· Adult Services' Project Team

· Unit Managers at Copper Beeches, Cherry Orchard, Bishops Waltham House OPH's and the Copper Beeches Day Centre

· Residents, carers and staff

· HFRS Embedded Officer

· PBRS Fire Safety Review Group

· PBRS Access Team

· PBRS Property Management

· PBRS PSMG Projects

· Adult Services DMT

· Local Planning Authority and Statutory Consultees

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Appendix A

FEEDBACK FROM CONSULTEES:

OTHER EXECUTIVE MEMBERS:

OTHER FORMAL CONSULTEES:

RISK & COMBINED IMPACT ASSESSMENT:

Crime prevention issues

The County Council has a legal obligation under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to consider the impact of all the decisions it makes on the prevention of crime. The proposals in this report have no impact on the prevention of crime. The Project Officer has met with the Police and no issues were identified.

Fire risk assessment

In consultation with the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, a fire risk assessment concludes that a sprinkler system should be installed at Copper Beeches OPH.

Health and safety

Designer's risk assessments have been undertaken and design health and safety plans are being developed for the proposed schemes, in accordance with the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007.

Climate Change

The following sustainable features will be incorporated into the scheme:

· replacement of existing single-glazed metal windows with new double-glazed UPVC units

· thermal insulation to roof void to be upgraded

· daylight-linked lighting controls to new artificial lighting

· new gas-fired boilers to replace existing oil-fired equipment