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Ref: 38/08 31 January 2008
Tories Back Off Closure Of Three Support Centres For The Time Being – Claims Labour Group Leader
Labour group leader Derek Bateman today (Thursday) claimed that Cheshire’s Tory Administration had backed off making a decision about the possible closure of three support centres for older people.
It follows a meeting of the Executive today which decided to pass the closure proposals, preparatory work and scrutiny reports to the new Local Government Reorganisation Joint Implementation Committees.
“This is excellent news for the three support centres involved – Lightfoot Lodge in Chester, Bexton Court Knutsford and Santune House in Shavington” said County Councillor Bateman.
“I am very pleased that they deferred this decision because I am against the closures in the first place.
“The Administration has in effect shelved the decision and may now not be taken until the two new unitary councils, if as expected, come into being in 2009.
“The three support centres play a huge role in their local communities and beyond in supporting people with dementia and their carers to remain in the community.
“And why should they be closed when our older population is growing in numbers?
“Nationally it is forecast to increase by 18 percent by 2011 and by 33 percent by 2021.”
“To close such well respected centres would have been heart breaking for the older people involved and their families.”
Fellow labour member Dorothy Flude had previously put forward an amendment at the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Select Committee that no action should be taken regarding the support centres until the new authorities had the opportunity to consider the situation.
County Councillor Flude, who was also Chairman of a special Task and Finish Scrutiny Panel which scrutinised the consultation process for the proposed changes to Older Peoples Services said after the meeting: “All the people we consulted said that our services were first class.
“Really difficult decisions have to be made in the future and we need to talk to older people and their carers so that they are well aware of decisions that will be made in the future.
“In the Task and Finish Scrutiny Panel we heard from many different people and organisations and I would urge members of the Joint Implementation Committees to study our report in detail.”
Added County Councillor Bateman: “I believe that no decision will be made until as expected the two proposed unitary councils come into being in April 2009.
“Until that date the Joint Implementation Committees will be in operation until elections this May for the two shadow councils which will work alongside the County Council until they take over in 2009.”
-Ends-
Notes To Editors: For further information please contact County Councillor Bateman on 07802 583 909 and County Councillor Flude on 01270 664121.
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