Councillor accuses Fife Council leader of hypocrisy over care homes

A senior Fife Labour councillor has described as “hypocrisy” comments by council leader Peter Grant in relation to the future of the region’s care homes.

Labour finance spokesman Mark Hood spoke after Mr Grant accused opposition councillors of giving the families of those in council-run care homes “false hope.”

The Lochgelly and Cardenden councillor said, “If anyone has given them false hope, it is the SNP/Lib Dem councillors who went through the charade of pretending to consult with these families then disregarded the 76% who said they wanted homes to remain under council control.

“It’s important to consult people but more important to listen to their response.”

Mr Hood also challenged the SNP’s assertion they had no choice but to privatise the care homes.

No choice

“The only people not to have any choice in this affair is the residents and their families,” he said. “The SNP administration could have gone much further in finding a solution to residential care home issues, but they ignored the wishes of residents and families and blamed the economy.”

Commenting on tomorrow’s motion before the council to remove social work committee chairman Tim Brett, Mr Hood said, “The chair of any committee is responsible for administration policy in that area.

“Their policy has led to the systematic dismantling of Fife social care services. The lack of a coherent strategy and strong leadership has resulted in social care policy blowing in the wind.”

Meanwhile, independent councillor Andrew Rodger claims there is an alternative to closing the homes.

“I have talked to other councils who are committed to keeping their homes and I believe we can do the same,” he said. “It can be done, I believe, by looking at our capital plan, an eight year plan, and I believe can be extended up to 10 years.”