Councillors Vote To Scrap Care Cuts

Sweeping £1.7million cuts to adult social services should be scrapped. That is the verdict of councillors after hearing heartrending pleas from carers to dump the proposals. Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford, heard emotional concerns about the problems carers would face if council chiefs pushed on with plans to slash the adult social care budget.

Opposition councillors – along with Tory rebel Cllr Harold Moth – voted six against five at an extraordinary meeting of the adult social services scrutiny committee to recommend Conservative leaders drop the proposals.

Stan Marks, 79, of Goodmayes Lane, Goodmayes, who cares for wife Shirley, said: “It’s only out of love that carers react as they do. “My wife lies there as if she’s near as dead as one possibly can be, but she’s still alive to me. I gave up work 11 years ago to look after her and I visit her three times a day. She’s been in a home for the past five years to give me some respite.”

Joyce Webb admitted she suffered depression caused by worrying about the proposed cuts. She said: “By cutting services you are hitting the most vulnerable people. The impact will be devastating – they will lose their dignity.”

Redbridge Disability Association and Redbridge Carers Support Service also voiced disapproval over the cuts.

Labour councillor Filly Maravala said public consultation also overwhelmingly opposed the cuts. He added: “Every speaker tonight highlighted the moral issues. Has this council looked at the moral issues? No it has not.”

Cllr Maravala says vulnerable people’s welfare should go before the controversial two new executive Jaguar cars the council’s leaders are due to receive. He also slammed the consultation process after some service users failed to receive questionnaires in time.

Housing and community services director John Drew said: “It’s not the duty of officers to support or oppose proposals. We propose the best possible service with the means the council has decided to provide.”