Social work chief in the firing line over home plans

THE SNP opposition are calling for the chairwoman of Highland Council’s social work committee to resign if plans to build five new care homes in the region are scrapped tomorrow (Thursday), as expected.

They have said that Margaret Davidson (Independent) must be held to account for not one but two 360-degree turns on care home provision in the Highlands.

As chairwoman of the same service in 2006, she controversially advocated privatisating the five council homes, including Grant House in Grantown, against a wave of public protest.

Then, according to the SNP, after the 2007 local government election, she “enthusiastically” joined with them in the Independent/Nationalist coalition to back the construction of homes, and for them to be run by the council.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s (Thursday) full meeting, when a decision is set to be taken on the homes, Highland Council Group Social Work spokesperson, Councillor Dave Fallows, condemned the U-turns.

He said: “Tomorrow Councillor Davidson will spin around again to scrap the commitment to build the homes at all.

“Her position is surely untenable, and highlights just how little trust the public can have in the Lib Dem/Labour/Independent coalition.

“I think everyone was willing to give her a second chance when she saw that building the five new care homes was a suitable way of protecting care for Highland’s older people, but there is general dismay that she has turned around again.

“It would have been an immensely powerful argument to hear her sticking to her commitment to build the homes.

“I have no doubt that she could have persuaded her colleagues, particularly given the manifesto commitments of Labour and the Lib Dems.

“This latest decision simply beggars belief, and will feel like a real betrayal for those affected.”

Councillor Fallows and his SNP colleagues are also unhappy over Labour’s decision to change tack.

He said: “We are looking at a wholesale sell-out by the Labour group over promises they made when they were asking for the public’s votes.

“They are trying to persuade people that their hands are tied because of tighter budget conditions, but this is not a matter of unreasonable spend. Social work accounts for a measly 1.8 per cent of the council’s planned capital spend, and is dwarfed by the other services.

“The council is, in fact, being asked to make a small commitment to our older people’s long-term wellbeing in overall terms of the council’s budget.”

He added: “It would be a huge betrayal of our older people if they try to fob the public off with the promise of a ‘lick of paint and a new carpet’ for some care homes, while singularly failing in their opportunity to protect council-run care for older people in the coming years.”

Councillors are being recommended by their officials not to proceed with the care homes because of the worsening financial situation, and likely further reductions in Government funding. They are being advised that it is not now viable to build the facilities in Grantown, Fort William, Inverness, Muir of Ord and Tain, which would cost an additional £30 million.

The report being presented to the meeting at the authority’s Inverness headquarters stresses that if the new homes do not proceed, there will be no immediate impact on the existing homes.

It states that local challenges are all different, and there is unlikely to be a ‘one-size fits all’ way forward.

Future options could include:

    * Investing in necessary minor works and maintenance, perhaps with a reduction in capacity;
    * Refurbishment;
    * Local partnership opportunities with NHS Highland, third sector or private providers;
    * Purchasing places from the independent sector, with additional quality assurance.

A Highland Council spokesman said: “Before any decision is taken on future provision, the report advises that there should be further consultation with local elected members and interested parties, and reports will be presented to the housing and social work committee.

“At their last meeting on May 13, members were advised that the construction of five new homes did not constitute best value for the council, as the services could be provided as effectively, and significantly more cheaply, by the independent sector.

“This would free available capital funding for other priority council building projects, such as schools and roads and flood prevention.”

If plans for a new Grant House are thrown out, local MSP Fergus Ewing said it is imperative that the council holds further discussions with the Grantown community, and that the council’s leader, Michael Foxley, and chief executive, Alistair Dodds, should attend.

Mr Ewing said: “There is great concern about care for the elderly within Badenoch and Strathspey – and in particular that there will continue to be local care for the elderly throughout the area.

“Further reduction in services would cause even more difficulties for those requiring care, as well as their families in visiting them, often travelling from far away with little public transport.

“I am pleased to note that the council appear to have agreed that a public meeting is necessary, and I trust that they will ensure that sufficient notice is given to the local public as to any proposed date and venue.”