Cross-party group urges Mayor: ‘Throw out care cuts again'

13 October 2008

A cross-party committee of councillors last week sent a message to the Mayor of Lewisham that he should reject twice-revived plans to make radical cuts to adult social care.

If a second committee makes a similar statement this Thursday, the Mayor's hand will be strengthened if he seeks to reject the cutbacks.

The Safer Stronger Communities select committee resolved to advise Mayor Steve Bullock to throw out officers' proposals to save more than £3m from the home care and day care budget.

Councillors quizzed officers at length on the proposed cuts, putting detailed questions from a briefing circulated by the Green Party.

Campaigners turned up to the meeting in strength, including representatives from Mencap and the Lewisham Disability Coalition, and they were allowed to question officers over the plans.

Before the proposals go to the Mayor for decisions on 19 November, they will be scrutinised by another committee, Healthier Communities, on Thursday 16 October.

Cllr Ute Michel, who leads on the issue for the Green Party, said:

"If the Healthier Communities committee also urges the Mayor to bin these misguided proposals it would send a very powerful message and strengthen the Mayor in keeping the promise he made to fully fund adult social care.

"Mencap, Lewisham Disability Coalition and others have told us how distressed their members are at having to fight these cuts for the third year in a row. If the cuts go through they say their health and independence will tailspin.

"We will do all we can to help them ensure it is three strikes and out for these plans."

Proposed changes to eligibility rules for receiving care would mean many older people and people with disabilities would be left having to pay for care they would struggle to afford privately.

Campaigners are also deeply concerned about other proposed cuts, such as a reduction in home care supervisors, closure of at least one day centre and hikes in Meals on Wheels charges.

Last November, after the proposals made the front page of the News Shopper, the Mayor told the paper: "It simply would not be acceptable for the council to be saying to this group of people they should no longer be eligible. Their needs are very real and serious."

Lewisham Green Party RSS Feed