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Liberal Democrats Criticize Cabinet Member Over Home Care Comments
April 15, 2008 4:29 PM
The Cabinet member for Adult Social Services and Housing is facing criticism for his statement last week that he does not plan to take any notice of the O&S panel's conclusions from the call-in on home care charges.
The Healthier Communities and Older People Overview and Scrutiny panel will meet this week to consider the call-in on the decision taken by the Cabinet member to raise home care charges. Liberal Democrat Councillors from the panel are angry at his remarks to the media last week.
Councillor Will Sandry (Oldfield) commented, "The Cabinet member's quotes in the media show a blatant disregard for the democratic process. The Conservative administration in this Council seems to want to stifle debate and accountability.
"He has shown an unwillingness to listen since the earliest meetings at which we considered service plans. He has ignored the advice of the O&S panel and appears to have ignored the responses of the community consultation on the proposed increases, proving that his idea of a consultation is a sham."
Councillor Cherry Beath (Combe Down) added, "I was shocked by the Cabinet member's statement that he will disregard the findings of the call-in, and the clear lack of respect he shows here for the democratic process. What confidence can residents of B&NES have if Cabinet members of this administration consider themselves unaccountable, and not answerable to anyone? An apology to the Council and residents would be appropriate."
Councillor Loraine Brinkhurst (Newbridge) said, "We asked ourselves whether it was worth continuing with the call-in process, but felt it was important to continue to hold the administration to account. We will be robustly defending the interests of care recipients at the meeting on Thursday and we will challenge the attitude of the administration".
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