The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on 27 August 2025, and unanimously agreed to support the recommendation to move the Physical Disabilities Day Service from the Westmead Day Centre to the Matthewsgreen Community Centre. The committee also agreed to receive an update on the development of the service in the next year.

Westmead Day Centre relocation

The committee voted to support the recommendation to move the Physical Disabilities Day Service from Westmead Day Centre to Matthewsgreen Community Centre, and to receive an update on the development of the service in the next year. The proposal includes consolidating the service to three days a week due to reduced demand.

Matt Pope, Executive Director for Children, Adults and Health, explained that the number of people using the service at Westmead had decreased over the years to only 17 people, and the building was in need of significant repair. The proposal is to relocate the service to the new, unused, council-owned building at Matthewsgreen Community Centre. He stated that the move would also reinvigorate and develop the service going forward .

Chris Clark, Strategic Lead Adult Commissioning, addressed concerns about the lack of gardening facilities at the new location, explaining that there would be a large patio area with raised beds for vegetable and flower gardening, as well as a shed for storing equipment. He also mentioned the possibility of joining existing community gardening projects.

Helen Woodland, Optalis CEO, assured the committee that a lot of effort was put into accommodating the current users' needs, and that for a couple of people with specific needs, their activities would be taken outside of the Matthewsgreen facility.

In response to a question about the reduction in the number of users, Matt Pope explained that people's expectations of activities had changed since 1993, when Westmead first started. He also noted that people now have the option to take direct payments from the council to fund their own activities. He hoped that diversifying the service at the new community centre would attract more people.

Members raised concerns that the Matthewsgreen building had not been used since its completion, but were pleased that this proposal would put it to good use and address the issues with the Westmead building.

The Public Reports Pack states that a property repairs review of Westmead in 2023 identified significant repair requirements, with current estimates at £250,000. The report also notes that the move aligns with the council's blended model of day opportunities, combining building and community-based activities, enhances accessibility and inclusion, improves efficiency and value for money, and enables reinvestment into essential services.

Recognition of Adult Social Care Services

The committee thanked officers for their work in achieving a high rating (third in the country) in relation to Adult Social Care Services by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).¹ Matt Pope explained that the council's services were rated 'outstanding' in some areas and 'good' in others, following an inspection in March 2025.