Campaigners in tears over West Sussex County Council adult care cuts

ANTI-CUTS campaigners left a debate on funding for adult care services they had forced disappointed – with some in tears.

Members of the organisation Don’t Cut Us Out had called on West Sussex County Council to reconsider the “deeply damaging cuts imposed on disabled and elderly people” following a decision last year to withdraw support for those considered to have only “moderate” needs.

Campaigners allege the council has cut £31 million from adult social care, while “salting away” £38 million into the council’s reserves.

But, although a substantial crowd gathered outside County Hall to protest on October 19, the council refused to alter its position following the debate.

Blind Julie Baker, 51, of Hammond Road, Broadfield, was in Chichester to hear the decision.

She said: “Perhaps we need to take the group of councillors into a room, blindfold them, and just let them get on with it without help and see how they cope.

“I used to get eight or nine hours of help a week paid for – shopping and help around the kitchen.

“It’s the little things. If I spill something on the floor, I can’t see it and don’t know it’s there.

“I got really upset at the meeting and had a little cry.”

The campaigners had forced a debate on the cuts to be held by getting more than 4,000 people to sign a petition calling for a U-turn.

Among them was Paul McCollum, 51, of Wordsworth Close, Pound Hill.

He said: “This isn’t about giving people a gold-plated service, it’s about what people need to live.”

And fellow protester Richard Symonds, of Lavington Close, Ifield, added: “By voting in such a morally irresponsible way, certain councillors are playing an extremely dangerous game with the lives of the disabled, elderly and young in their care.”

The council offered a spirited – and lengthy – defence of its position.

A spokesman said: “We would point out that we have bent over backwards to facilitate Don’t Cut Us Out.

“The reasons for the changes are two-fold. The government drive to shrink the national budget deficit has resulted in major reductions in funding for local authorities.

“At the same time demographic pressures means we have to meet increased needs with decreased resources.”

The spokesman added that money is not “simply stashed away” in the council’s reserves.

He said: “The council holds £158 million in earmarked reserves for financing capital investment, spreading the costs of long-term projects such as private finance initiative schemes, and for the up-front investment necessary to realise longer-term savings.

“Only £18 million of reserves is available to spend on unforeseen contingencies, such as flooding events.

“All services are contributing to the [overall] savings target. Adults’ services is not being made a particular focus, but equally it is not immune from having to make savings and its share of this is £31 million.”