An independent consultant has described the closure of the Kemback Street Adult Resource Centre in Dundee as “the better option”, and councillors will now consider shutting it by the end of November.
A report by Alex Davidson to the social work committee examines closure in the context of day care services in the city for adults with mild to moderate learning disability.
Councillors will be told that closing the Kemback Street centre will change service delivery for people who use it, but the overall result would benefit many more people.
The council became mired in a controversy over the proposal to close the centre.
It was running at only 30% of capacity and the council said closure would allow a more personalised service, but many of the users’ families and carers wanted it to remain open and more than 4,000 people signed a petition urging the council to think again.
Then the Care Inspectorate, in a scheduled report, said it was doing a good job.
They also criticised the council for not taking appropriate action to communicate the proposed changes properly.
The council agreed to carry out a fresh consultation and share the results with service users and their families.
Mr Davidson notes the falling number of people using day care services as different personalised care has developed.
Kemback Street and the Wellgate Support Centre each have space to absorb the other.
A move to Wellgate would secure day centre services in a more suitable building.
Mr Davidson said: “The proposal to close the centre, which in the short term will be difficult for some service users, is the better option for the future development of a range of resources and opportunities for service users which will in turn assist carers in their caring role.”
SNP social work convener Ken Lynn said: “While we acknowledge that change is difficult and presents challenges to people who use Kemback Street and their carers, we have to look at the big picture.
“So that we can implement policy and plans for greater personalisation of care, we need to have the right balance of services and buildings to support people with a learning disability and/or autism.
“I have made a commitment that if we close Kemback Street the £459,050 from the budget will be used for more personalised support for current and future service users.
“It will also be reinvested into the learning disability implementation plan to meet priorities for adults with a learning disability and/or autism.”
In a separate report social work director Jennifer Tocher details the work in consulting people who use Kemback Street and their carers by social work staff and Mr Davidson.
Almost all said they wanted the centre to stay open, but some recognised the reasons to consider closure, which she recommends should happen by November 29.
Mr Lynn added: “I have always made clear that any agreement about future support would take full account of the specific needs of each person and their current circumstances.
“The services we deliver at Kemback Street will continue if that is what people want, but they will be more personalised and at another day care facility.”
Labour leader Kevin Keenan said: “It is disappointing that they are going ahead with closure considering the concern there was about this outcome.”