Plans to close day centre met with overwhelming opposition

97% AGAINST CITY COUNCIL PROPOSAL TO REDUCE HUGE BUDGET SHORTFALL

NOTTINGHAM City Council has been urged to reconsider a plan to close one of its day centres, after a consultation found that 97 percent of respondents were in opposition.

The measures have been put forward to try to address a huge budget shortfall.

The council says around half of its costs from Covid have not been reimbursed by the Government, meaning budget cuts are necessary.

The financial position has also been impacted by the failure of Robin Hood Energy and the collapse of the Broadmarsh shopping centre project.

Hundreds of redundancies - some compulsory and others voluntary were proposed, to deal with the financial shortfall, as well as the closure of some playgrounds.

But a consultation carried out by the city council has now found almost universal opposition to the plan to close one of three day care centres for people with disabilities.

It has not yet been announced which of the centres will close.

Today, the council’s adult care boss was urged to reconsider the closure, in light of the consultation response.

Councillor Maria Watson represents Clifton East for the Clifton Independents, and said: “By our calculation, over 97 percent of these respondents expressed overwhelmingly negative opinions of this proposal, and like us, believe that it would be unnecessarily harmful to those at most risk during this already difficult time.

“Can the portfolio holder confirm to me that the feedback she has received has been treated with the respect it warrants and has been considered carefully in the decision making process?

“Can she justify why the closure is still planning to go ahead despite the obvious public opposition to it?”

Councillor Adele Williams is the city council’s portfolio holder for Adult Care and Local Transport, and represents the Sherwood ward for Labour.

She replied: “The council is committed to working with citizens and families in a personalised way to support people’s independence and choice in their local communities.

“Our plans for day support recognised that building-based services will be part of the solution but not the whole picture.

“We have significant underuse of our existing day centres as younger people have chosen other options for their support.

“The feedback which has been received has been carefully considered as part of a comprehensive consultation with the citizens that attend day services, and their families and carers.

“Understanding the views of citizens, their families and carers is really important to making sure adult social services are able to meet the needs of citizens in a landscape that has been significantly impacted upon by Covid19 and I take that personally seriously.

“Consultation is continuing, and will include a review for each person who uses day services.

“There will be no final decisions made on this matter until this further consultation has concluded, and the views of all stakeholders have been carefully considered.

“I will want to be assured that we are building the best possible services for our citizens.”