Dumfries & Galloway Council’s social work chief fails to rule out ARC closure

Dumfries and Galloway Council’s social work boss has given his strongest indication yet that centres for adults with learning disabilities will be closed.

John Alexander told a public meeting in Castle Douglas last week that if better services could be offered without buildings, this would be done and the centres – one of which is in the Stewartry – would be shut.

However, he also said this would not happen without approval from carers.

The council had considered closing four of their six activity and resource centres (ARCs) – one of which is in Castle Douglas – earlier this year, but the plans were dropped before they reached the public consultation stage.

Many carers are still concerned the centres will be closed in the future and expressed their fears at a heated meeting last week.

Mr Alexander, the social work services director, attended along with carers and members of the Dumfries and Galloway Public Protest Group (DGPPG) last Wednesday.

He said it was his “intention to develop personalisation” and when asked if he would close the ARCs responded: “If it can be done in a way that building based services can be closed, I will do that.

“This can only be achieved on a collaboration basis with hearts and minds. We cannot close services on a top down basis.”

He acknowledge ARCs are a “valued service” and later added: “We are not going to impose changes from above without consent.

“It has to be at least as good, if not better, than what we have at the moment.”

More than 15 carers attended the meeting, many of whom were angry at the proposed closures and the way the council had gone about the matter.

A number said if they were given the option, they would rather keep the ARCs, which they believed were the most cost effective options.

Several were upset that the first they had heard of the proposals was through the media early one morning just a few days before the matter went to committee, rather than through a consultation process.

“As an officer, my hands were tied,” responded Mr Alexander. “I was not mandated to go public.”

One member of the public accused him of being “evasive” while Chris Green, a welfare attorney for someone who uses the ARC at Castle Douglas, criticised the way the proposals had been put together and said: “To say it was drawn up on the back of a fag packet would probably be a compliment to the fag packet.”

In reply to the remark, Mr Alexander said he believed the proposals had been achievable and sustainable.

He could not say the issue of closing the ARCs would never be suggested again as it is likely the council will be forced to make further budget cuts in the next few years.

A further meeting involving carers, DGPPG and Mr Alexander is being planned for late January.