Kinloch development will ‘set the standard’ for elderly

COUNCILLORS have approved the draft development plan for a £9.3 million project, which aims to provide improved services for older people in Carnoustie on the site of the Kinloch school.

At a meeting of the full Angus Council, members were updated on the project which will provide high dependency residential care and a residential respite unit to replace the current services on offer in Camus House.

Plans for the site also include a centre which will provide specialist day care for people suffering from dementia, almost 30 individual tenancies and office space for health and social work staff currently based in Camus House and the Dundee Street offices.

A report put before the council said: “The Kinloch development will set the standard for all future supported housing developments in Angus.

“The development will deliver high quality accommodation supported housing, high dependency residential and respite care and specialist dementia day care to replace the services at Camus House and to meet the future needs of the older people of Carnoustie.

“It is therefore proposed that this development is undertaken and funded by the Council and that both the supported housing and general needs provision form part of the Council’s housing stock, managed and maintained within the housing revenue account.”

However, the council admit that due to the current economic climate, more time is needed to draw up detailed financial plans for the project.

It added: “Members will be conscious that the public sector financial position has changed significantly since the Best Value Review was approved by the council.

“The levels of Scottish Government revenue grant to Angus Council for 2010-11 and 2012-13 are not yet known, however it is clear that Angus Council will be required to make significant year on year savings over this period.

“A cost implementation plan has been completed, however further work is required to take account of the revised financial picture.”

The report is also keen to stress that there will be land on the Kinloch site that will be provided for a community centre in Carnoustie.

The report read: “Members will be aware that the council has made a commitment to the provision of land to facilitate the provision of a community led facility at the Kinloch site.

“This would be provided free in the form of a cleared site as a contribution in kind to any project and a plot has been earmarked for this purpose.”

It is hoped the final plans will go before councillors early next year with work starting on the site in June 2011. It is expected the project would take two years to build.