Consultation Welcomes Day Centre Views From Public – Reminder

Residents in Powys are reminded that the council welcomes views from all of the county’s residents on the future of daytime activities and daycentres in the county. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Powys County Council is currently consulting on a series of proposals for the future of daytime activities for elderly people. The consultation still has over a month to go before its closing date on Wednesday 9 November. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The survey and consultation document is available online at www.powys.gov.uk/haveyoursay and paper copies of these documents are available from all Powys libraries for those people who are not internet users. Additionally, people can request paper copies by calling 01597 826578. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Stephen Hayes, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “We realise that the questionnaire is not the most appropriate method for engaging with all people and that is why the council is holding meetings with service users, their families and carers to hear their views in person. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s also important to repeat that we welcome people’s comments in any form, so if you do not wish to fill in the questionnaire, please write to us at County Hall or email us at consultation@powys.gov.uk if you’d prefer.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council has also offered one-to-one meetings with local AMs and MPs to discuss the consultation and to hear their views. It will also be holding a session with all county councillors and a separate meeting with a wide range of other organisations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s consultation document proposes three possible way forwards – but it also asks for any suggestions that it may have not yet considered. The council is having to find savings because of a squeeze on public expenditure. However, it also wishes to review how best to deliver daytime activities for older people in the future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The three options are: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Option 1. – Not close any of the existing services and to continue ‘as is’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Option 2 – Close all day centres including non-council run day centres (not including Westwood in Welshpool). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Option 3 – Take a phased approach to ceasing all existing provision (except for Westwood in Welshpool) whilst developing an improved future service model to address early intervention and prevention. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The full address for any postal submissions is Day Time Activities Consultation c/o Communications Team, County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5LG. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​