Lib Dems challenge decision to privatise day care (Ipswich Liberal Democrats)

Ipswich Liberal Democrats <info@ipswichlibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems challenge decision to privatise day care

January 22, 2007 2:25 PM

Day Care is essential to many in our community

Liberal Democrats on Suffolk County Council today called in the decision of the Conservative Cabinet to buy in older people's day care services from the independent and private sector to Full Council for proper debate.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Cllr Kathy Pollard said, "We took the difficult decision to call in these proposals because we felt that a proper discussion of such a major development was necessary. The proposals the Cabinet discussed contained no detailed financial breakdown of why County Council day care services cost more than those in the independent and private sector, despite this being the main reason for the move. Nor did the proposals give any explanation of what the Conservatives have done to try and reduce costs, surely something they should have tried before making this decision.

Most importantly they have failed to give reassurance or adequate explanation of whether there is adequate provision in the independent and private sector for those people who currently have day care places, let alone whether there will be adequate provision for increasing demand in the future.

Inevitably the Conservatives will simply accuse us of wasting time, their standard response for anyone who questions their decisions, but I doubt very much that the people, their families and the members of staff who will be affected by this decision will buy that line. The call-in procedure allows councillors to ask for a decision the Cabinet has made to be 'called-in' and come before the full council for discussion. It is a vital and integral part of the democratic process and without it the administration, regardless of party, would simply be able to ride roughshod over any opposition.

A decision to call something in can be withdrawn at any time and we will be more than happy to do so if the Conservatives are willing to publish a full financial summary which satisfies our concerns.

I believe these proposals deserve to be questioned fully and openly to ensure they will not result in people being left with a reduced or non-existent service. These proposals affect those most vulnerable in our society and I think it is right that a proper debate be had."

Notes

1. The paper which went to Cabinet regarding a 'Review of Older People's Local Authority day services in Suffolk' can be found here:

http://apps2.suffolk.gov.uk/cgi-bin/committee_xml.cgi?p=doc&id=1_9031&format=doc

2. The only detail in the paper regarding costs is in paragraphs 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 and only gives detail that the average cost of day care is £30 for a county council delivered service, though the costs range between £20 and £52 (see page 5 of paper C07/04). No breakdown is given of what goes into these costs.

3. The paper also acknowledges that questions have been raised regarding whether there are sufficient places available in the private/independent sector (page 7, paragraph 62).

4. On page 8, paragraph 67 the paper states, "A variety of informal methods were used to find out how much alternative day care might be available across the county, if the decision was made to no longer provide these services in the centres currently run by the council. The research showed that every area has potential to increase the number of day care places provided by other organisations than the council." (Emphasis added.)

The Liberal Democrat and Independent Group feel there should have been a much more robust investigation into the availability of places before this decision was made.