The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Councillors ‘too late’ to save home help service
ANGUS COUNCILLORS disgruntled over the end of council-provided home help have been told they spoke up too late to save the service.
Come October, Angus Council will no longer directly provide home help for more than 600 people.
Councillors on the social work and health committee heard almost 45 full-time staff will be offered a mix of early retirement, voluntary redundancy, or other posts with the local authority.
Some members decried the end of the service, which will make way for the self-directed support (SDS) model, but were told by committee convener Glennis Middleton that none had challenged cuts at the last budget-setting exercise.
She said: “As I recall at last year’s budget when this first reared its head, I think I was maybe the only voice who raised any queries about any cuts at all within adult services.
“At this year’s budget, again, no one else said anything – council agreed this cut and no one raised a query. To leave it to this late stage isn’t very good. That decision should have been taken long ago.”
The move to save £755,000 is part of the council’s efforts to shave millions of pounds from its annual budget.
The service had not been due to end until April next year but officials accelerated the date because shrinkage of the set-up would lead to it becoming “unsustainable”.
Mrs Middleton promised people who use the current service that they will continue to receive home help via the SDS model.
She said: “The direct delivery of the home help service will no longer be provided by this council.
“That does not mean service users will not be able to access a service.”
Scottish Government guidance over SDS highlights user choice of where services are obtained from, rather than automatic provision through a local authority.
Mrs Middleton said reducing budgets are forcing moves in this direction.
“My own position is I have always believed in the direct delivery of service – but we are where we are,” she added.
“We live against a backdrop of decreasing budgets ... of self-directed support and integration.
“It is just no longer possible to continue in the way we have been.”
Councillor David May talked about changes he believed will be “devastating” for some residents.
“This does make a difference to the quality of their life and wellbeing,” he said.
Following the meeting, Mr May said he believed Scottish Government cash should be routed from unspent budgets to save direct services. riwatt@thecourier.co.uk