Council reconsiders closure of respite centres

A council is looking to extend the contract of an organisation that runs two at-risk respite centres while it considers what to do with them.

Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) has proposed closing Swallow Lodge in Lincoln and Cedar House in Spalding in favour of using multiple providers across the region.

However, the plans could now been put on hold to allow for further consultation following a backlash from some service users.

Families opposing the move said the units provided a "home from home" for vulnerable adults.

At an extraordinary meeting of the adult care and public health scrutiny committee on Wednesday, Martin Samuels, executive director of adult care and community wellbeing at LCC, said the original proposals were in response to feedback.

"Throughout, the aim has been to ensure that we are meeting people's needs better," he said.

He told the meeting the current contract for both sites was due to expire on 31 August, but LCC was looking to extend the contracts for 11 months, until 31 July 2027, allowing time for further consultation.

"It is a genuine consultation. No decisions have been made," he added.

The proposed extension is estimated to cost more than £1m - and has been recommended for approval when it goes before the council's executive on 14 July, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor Maggie Cullen welcomed the extension.

"As I think I've said before, it gives the service users the reassurance that they can still use the service while we make a decision," she added.

However, former council leader Martin Hill said he had concerns about the potential delay.

"There's now a year of uncertainty," he added.

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