Agenda item

Catering Provision at Edwards Court

To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

 

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RECOMMENDED that Council approve, subject to the outcome of discussion with Devon County Council, that the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Customer Services and Council Housing be given delegated powers to agree that:

 

(1)   Exeter City Council provides in-house catering at Edwards Court; and

(2)   Exeter City Council creates and recruits to the following posts: Head Chef, Assistant Chef and 2 x Catering Assistants contracted for 25 hours per week at estimated grades of F, D and B respectively and that they are added to the Council’s staffing establishment.

 

Reason for Decision: As set out at the meeting.

 

 

Minutes:

The Executive received the report on the proposal for providing in-house catering provisions at Edwards Court with an increase in staffing to provide the service. In February 2022, Council approved for all non-care services operating for the 51 properties at Edwards Court to be managed by Exeter City Council, with care provisions provided by Devon County Council. However, following an unsuccessful tendering exercise for the catering service, a decision was required to provide catering to the residents and an in-house provision was considered the only viable option.

 

The Deputy Chief Executive suggested the following amendment to the recommendations in the report:-

 

That Executive recommend and Council approve that, subject to the outcome of discussion with Devon County Council, the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Customer Services and Council Housing be given delegated powers to agree:

 

(1)   that Exeter City Council provides in-house catering at Edwards Court; and

(2)   that Exeter City Council creates and recruits to the following posts: Head Chef, Assistant Chef and 2 x Catering Assistants contracted for 25 hours per week at estimated grades of F, D and B respectively and that they are added to the Council’s staffing establishment.

 

It was explained that the reason for the amendment was that since the report had been drafted, further work had been undertaken by officers to understand the impact on the estimated costs on the City Council. Further analysis of the projected cash flow showed that the anticipated financial return over the projected 30-year period would reduce in the region of £3 million as a result of the in-house provision and projected increase in costs as a result of inflation.

 

There was still value in providing catering to residents at Edwards Court, and the creation of a communal area would help prevent social isolation and provide tenants with a daily hot meal. While the Council was contractually committed to using best endeavours to provide a daily two course hot meal every day, the impact on the Council’s Housing Revenue Account could not be ignored. Conversations had commenced with Devon County Council as a partner in the Scheme, to help understand how the increased costs could be shared, and recognising that the catering provision funded by Exeter City Council would also have a positive impact on the care delivery costs of the County Council. 

 

The Leader advised that the number of positions and salary grades would be agreed with the relevant trade unions and would follow the appropriate recruitment process.

 

Councillor D. Moore, as an opposition group leader, spoke on this item. She welcomed and supported the in-house service provision and commented on the assumptions for the cost and quality of service. The report stated, that there would be no direct carbon and environmental issues arising from the recommendations, however, the production and quality of food provision would have environmental and carbon impacts and needed to be considered as the service was commenced.

 

During the discussion the following points were made:-

 

·        residents had been confirmed as now living at Edwards Court, which was welcomed;

·        there would be neither a positive or negative carbon impact at the site as the Council would provide residents with the means to eat at the premises; and

·        Edwards Court was one of the first UK Passivhaus extra care homes built and it highlighted the Council’s commitment to building to Passivhaus standard.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Customer Services and Council Housing commented that Edwards Court was a good building and the report showed the Council’s commitment to developing Passivhaus homes. She expressed her thanks to the Assistant Director of Housing for the hard work that had been undertaken, to ensure the residents’ need were met.

 

RECOMMENDED that Council approve, subject to the outcome of discussion with Devon County Council, that the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Customer Services and Council Housing be given delegated powers to agree that:

 

(1)   Exeter City Council provides in-house catering at Edwards Court; and

(2)   Exeter City Council creates and recruits to the following posts: Head Chef, Assistant Chef and 2 x Catering Assistants contracted for 25 hours per week at estimated grades of F, D and B respectively and that they are added to the Council’s staffing establishment.

 

Supporting documents: