Cllr Howard Jones

Leader of the Conservative Group, Cllr Howard Jones
Madam Mayor,
I support the recommendation and am pleased to second the motion.
The Conservative Group and I urge this Council to cease all plans or consultations that may result in a closure of any day care centres in this Borough either Hobkirk House or Newent House.
This is not a political game that we are involved in - this action would dramatically affect the lives of old and vulnerable people who need these places to visit during the day to socialise and receive much needed care and companionship and in some cases to give respite to those who care for them..
In the past this Council has always prided itself on the care it provides older and more vulnerable people in the borough, and the Lib Dems – you - have been happy to accept the 4 stars that the audit commission gave this Council in its CPA review you have been happy to trumpet the successes of a very effective service – which you are now piece by piece slowly going to destroy.
Once again we are confronted with a policy of closure and cuts which did not appear in the Lib Dem manifesto and was not voted for by the residents. The way you are approaching this issue there is no doubt you would have lost the election had you been up front and honest with the electorate.
My Group promised that we would give priority to the elderly and the disabled over frivolous spending on mad traffic schemes on supporting the theatre with public money – public money that could have been spent on keeping these day centres and other facilities for the elderly, disadvantaged and disabled open and continuing resource - additionally we would scrap the Lib Dems means testing for this boroughs elderly and disabled.
We have seen the total disregard the Lib Dems show this boroughs old people with the spiteful domiciliary care charges a few years ago and now these cuts - and lets be totally frank - these are cuts. They are not reprovisioning or redistributing these services - they are Lib Dem cuts!
Where is the local MP or should I say where are the local Lib Dem MPs – what is their position on these cuts? What do they say about these issues? – very little – I suspect because they are as embarrassed - I guess – as much as many of you are embarrassed by the decisions made by your Executive on this.
We are told that this consultation is a proper consultation – the people will be listened to – how is it then that in the Budget voted through by you a few weeks ago these cuts are included – some consultation this is – it’s not a consultation it’s a fraud – it’s a sham and it is unworthy of people elected to public office.
The idea that there will be alternatives to the day centres is laughable – there are no alternative facilities identified through the consultation so far which would in any way replace these important day facilities.
We are told that people with a lower level of need will be able to access a range of services provided through local voluntary and private sector organisations – I must say that is extremely woolly and not good enough.
It is not good enough Cllr Shelton to say apologetically to the frightened people who have attended some of the Consultation sessions that they will be alright because their care is guaranteed – there will always be a place for them – what about the future – what about the increasingly aging population what sort of legacy are you leaving them?
I’ll tell you what - its not one to be proud of.
I urge this council to vote with me, and my group to help the people of this borough, and not just for the present population but for future generations who will need these services.