Transport costs cut could threaten elderly care centre

EMEREGENCY talks were taking place as we went to press yesterday (Thursday) to find a solution to a funding crisis which jeopardises the future of the Bradbury Centre in Bonar Bridge.

The decision by Highland Council to refuse, after August, to grant-aid the transport costs of bringing elderly and vulnerable people from all over south-east and central Sutherland to the centre for things such as lunch clubs and outings, could result in falling numbers and eventual closure.

The Bradbury Centre has provided a service to the elderly and disabled since it opened in 1998.

The cost of transport has always been a problem but for the past six years a grant from the Scottish Government, through the Rural Community Transport Initiative, enabled people to come from Dornoch, Spinningdale, Edderton, Lairg and Rosehall, and the outlying areas of Bonar Bridge and Ardgay, to the lunch club and to enjoy other social activities in the centre.

Last year the funding was transferred to Highland Council as part of the Scottish Government concordat which set out areas of financial responsibility between the two bodies.

Highland Council administered the money for the first year, giving all the groups involved the same amount as they had previously received from the Scottish Government.

The budget set aside for 2009/10 and 2010/11 for community transport was £501,961 per annum but applications from 27 groups were around 50 per cent more than the budget would support.

Each application was graded on a points basis under five categories, including the range of social needs met, and alternative transport available. Under this system, the maximum figure which could be achieved was 76 points.

At a meeting of the council’s transport, environment and community (TEC) services committee last month, it was decided not to fund the four applications with the lowest points, which included a bid from Creich, Croick and Kincardine District Daycare Association, who administer transport arrangements for the Bradbury Centre, for just over £50,000 over the two years.

Their “score” was just 28.5 points, the lowest of the 27 applications.

Part of the reason for refusing the application was that such costs could fall under the social work remit.

Lorraine Askew, the Bradbury Centre’s manager, said this week: “We seem to be being treated as piggy in the middle. Many of the people using our service have been assessed by social work as requiring care, and the council should therefore be paying for the transport to enable them to attend to receive that care. It doesn’t matter to us whether the money comes from the social work budget or the transport budget, but without it we cannot continue.”

Yesterday’s talks were taking place at the council offices at Drummuie, Golspie.

Ms Askew added: “We are going to table a proposal that will not only solve our transport problems but add a valuable resource to the community and cost the council less than the previous service. This is by buying a minibus using our own resources, but asking for revenue funding to operate the vehicle.

“If our request for funding from the council is successful, we will also operate an escorted shopping service and use the vehicle to allow our members to participate in other social activities away from the centre.”

An average of 22 people attend the lunch club on four days a week but many more participate in social events at the centre and attend events such as trips to Eden Court Theatre in Inverness. Until now, private hire has been used to transport people.

Highland councillor Jim McGillivray (East Sutherland and Edderton), some of whose constituents attend the centre, said: “The Bradbury Centre provides a significantly valuable service for the Kyle of Sutherland communities, and I feel particularly guilty that this situation has slipped through the TECS committee discussions on rural transport support without the repercussions being spotted.

“I feel that the Bradbury committee have now presented well argued and carefully costed proposals to not only take control of the transport issue for themselves but to provide an enhanced service for their clients, and it is my hope that agreement can be reached on this programme to everybody’s satisfaction.”

Councillor Robbie Rowantree (North, West and Central Sutherland) said: “There have been a lot of headlines about the funding pressure that government at all levels is coming under at the moment.

“This is causing some acute financial difficulties for Highland Council.

“I was pleased that, at the council meeting at which the decision on community transport grants was taken, the special position of the Bradbury Centre was recognised and an extension period of the current contract was agreed so that a sustainable future for the Bradbury could be found.

“The contribution that the Bradbury Centre makes to the wellbeing of the older members of our communities is immeasurable, and I can say with confidence that no effort will be spared by any of the Sutherland councillors in finding a solution to their current difficulties.”

A Highland Council spokesperson said: “One of our officials is meeting this group at Drummuie on Thursday morning to discuss this further.”

As we went to press, a Bradbury Centre spokesman said things looked more positive as a result of the meeting.

“The devil is in the detail and we still need to dot the I’s and cross the T’s, but it is a step forward.”