Council watchdog cements Leeds Crisis Centre closure

Councillors in Leeds have backed the decision to close the Leeds Crisis Centre. Members of the adult social care scrutiny watchdog met at Leeds Civic Hall to discuss the proposals by the cash-strapped council to close the Headingley-based support centre, which costs £700,000 a year to run.

The board had two options – to release the decision for implementation or to recommend to the council’s exectuive board that the decision be reconsidered.

Five Conservative councillors had ‘called-in’ the decision, voicing concerns that consultation had ‘not been as wide or thorough as it should have been.’

Speaking on their behalf, Guiseley and Rawdon councillor Graham Latty said:

    “I am here to question how the decision to close the crisis centre was made, a decision which I find in the circumstances inexplicable.

    “It is a service which isn’t replicated anywhere across Leeds. It is unclear where this service would go if it was not provided by the council.

    “If you don’t know what you are going to do with a service how can you have a full and proper consultation? It seems to me the only option on the table was to close it. An in depth consultation may not have come to that decision.”

Latty was also joined by representatives from Leeds Link and the Save Leeds Crisis Centre campaign.

Head of service delivery in adult social services John Lennon denied there had been a lack of consultation and said the NHS had pledged to pick up the work carried out at the centre. He said:

    “We have spent some time with staff, lengthy meetings with my management team and the entire staff group.

    “In the time frame I believe we had available to us I think it has involved fairly intensive conversations.”

Representative of the Save Leeds Crisis Centre campaign, Jeremy Pritlove, was disappointed by the decision, he said:

    “There is no doubt in my mind we won the debate. There is no doubt that there is a need for proper consultation. The timescale of the consultation was ridiculously short, unfortunately the vote when the other way.”

MP Mulholland criticises decision
Greg Mulholland MP Greg Mulholland MP Photograph: Guardian

Member of Parliament for Leeds North West, Greg Mulholland, has labelled the decision not to refer the decision to close the Leeds Crisis Centre back to the executive board for reconsideration ‘a disgrace’.

Mulholland said he was angry that the vote was lost by two votes as a result of a Labour majority and support from Morley’s independent councillors. He said:

    “This is a disgraceful and clearly politically motivated decision by the Labour and Morley Borough Independent councillors not to insist the Labour-led executive board look again at their decision to close the Leeds Crisis Centre.

    “They have put party and self interest ahead of their role of scrutinising difficult decisions; this makes a mockery of the whole scrutiny board system that is supposed to provide independent scrutiny of important decisions.

    “This is a decision that so clearly merited proper scrutiny prior to the closure of a longstanding service, and it is a dereliction of duty for members of a scrutiny board to choose to support their party political colleagues’ desire to avoid scrutiny of their questionable decision making.

    “This suggests a reform of the scrutiny system is needed otherwise controversial decisions will not be looked at simply because it suits the ruling group not to do so.”

Council issues statement
Lucinda yeadon leeds Councillor Lucinda Yeadon

In a statement issued by the council this afternoon, Labour councillor Lucinda Yeadon, executive board member with responsibility for adult health and social care, said:

    “I welcome scrutiny board’s input and their agreement that this very difficult decision has to go ahead if we are to make the massive savings that we need to as a result of the devastating spending cuts passed onto us by the government.

    “This has been an incredibly painful decision for everyone involved, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the centre’s past and current staff for the excellent service they have provided for over 20 years.

    “Our priority now is to continue working with NHS Leeds and the voluntary sector to make sure that people are referred to the appropriate alternative services when they need them.

    “I would also like to stress that anyone currently receiving a programme of counselling through the centre will complete their course. We will also offer support to staff to help them find alternative suitable employment.”

Sandie Keene, director of adult social services added:

    “Nothing will happen immediately, or suddenly. All those people who have begun or are due to begin a course of counselling at the Crisis Centre will complete their therapy there. I would like to reassure people currently receiving counselling that it will not be stopped prematurely and will run its full course.”

The decision to close the centre was initially made by the executive board last month.