ARC future remains uncommitted

LABOUR’S social work spokesman Councillor John Syme has spoken of his concern following a further refusal by Dumfries and Galloway Council to commit to the future of Activity Resource Centres (ARCs) in the region.

At a meeting of the social work services committee on Tuesday, £1.6m of underspend from the NHS Resource Transfer budget was agreed for development of a change fund to support the move to a more personalised approach within the social work service.

However, Labour politicians are concerned that the development of this fund will increase the pace of aspects of the personalisation agenda which have been rejected by users – including the proposed closures of Activity Resource Centres (ARCs).

Following attempts by the Tory/Lib Dem Administration to close ARCs during the consultation for the 20010/11 budget, Labour councillors last year proposed that the council give an assurance to users of the service that they would not try to close them again for the life of the council.

They refused to do so, and at the most recent social work services committee again rejected Councillor Syme’s call that they give this reassurance when creating the new change fund.

Councillor Syme said: “This £1.6m should be used for the benefit of our communities and not as part of preparation to close ARCs.

“Users of ARCs were outraged last year when the council proposed closing them and they are anxious about any signs this is going to come back on the agenda.

“The continued refusal of this administration to commit to the future of ARCs and rule out closing them for the life of this council is deeply concerning.

“Thecouncil has again passed up the opportunity to give users the security and reassurance they so desperately want and deserve.”

Local MSP Elaine Murray added: “Those that rely on ARCs day in day out deserve the assurance this invaluable service is safe. They are living with a cloud over their head because the council have again refused to rule out closing them. This makes me very suspicious that the council is looking for a way to get their closure back on the agenda.

“There was uproar last year when they put forward this damaging and ill considered proposal in the first place but they don’t seem to have listened to users and their families.”