Unhappy at confusion caused

Published 14 Apr 2010 16:00 Comments 1 Comment

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As a disabled man I've been very concerned about Fife Council's withdrawel of the homecare housework services. Of more concern is the way Fife council has implimented this, through the back door.

This has led to confusion and it would like to ask the Chair of Standards and Audit on Fife Council to investigate whether a decision has been taken to remove non personal care from people who currently receive this service and, if such a decision has been made was it made within the proper governance procedures of Fife Council.

I was at the budget meeting on Thursday 11th of February 2010 as a supporter of the Campaign Against Charges and I was given a copy of all the papers presented that day including the paper that was voted through by the SNP and Liberal Democrat councillors and nowhere in that paper was there any reference to the withdrawal of housework, laundry and bed making services to 1,856 people.

The first I became aware of this was when I read comments by Alex Rowley in the local press about back door cuts to non personal care.

I then asked my home care team if this is true and they all came back to say they had been told no. I then asked Councillor Ross Vettraino if this was true and he said yes but seemed to think it was acceptable on the grounds that Alex Rowley had been told about the cut in advance, and also, as he put it, 'a lot of these people don't need the service'.

My home care team still can't tell me anything about this cut.

However, Alex Rowley has sent me a paper detailing the cut that he says was suggested by officers as part of a 3% of cuts back in November last year. He has also sent me a paper that went to the Cross party leaders meeting in January that includes this proposal. I am therefore left wondering was this suggestion from officers taken as a cut and if it was should it not have been brought before the councillors and been highlighted before being approved?

I am feeling very confused and feel there is a lack transparency from the council.

Home care is a service given to the most vulnerable in society and as such the service users should always be kept fully informed of decisions taken that could adversely affect them.

PETER LOCKHART, Cowdenbeath.

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Saor Alba
Unregistered User
Jan 21, 22:46
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Rubbish. We all know you are a Labour Party member and running for council Peter

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