Campaigners fighting to save much-loved Ludlow day care complain about handling of petition

Campaigners who are trying to save a much-lowed day care service in Ludlow have complained about how their petition was handled.

Last month, Cabinet agreed to close the Helena Lane Day Centre in Hamlet Road. The centre currently provides a building-based day service for older people, offering structured activities, social interaction, personal care - including assisted bathing - and respite for unpaid carers.

However, while it won't be closing the Helena Lane building itself, Shropshire Council believes the day centre service doesn't offer value for money, costing an average of £332.82 a day for five people to attend. To make it viable, the council said around 20 people need to use it.

A group set up to keep the service open, called the Helena Lane Day Care Alliance, argue there has been a lack of publicity and said the fact there is a waiting list proves there is demand.

A petition that they ran to keep the service open gathered more than 1,000 signatures, meaning it could be debated by full council.

However, the authority said it couldn't happen until last Thursday, after Cabinet made its decision to close it.

No vote was taken by councillors, with the portfolio holder for adult social care and health, Councillor Ruth Houghton, saying that Cabinet made a key decision on June 10, which remains unchanged.

She also pointed out that the consultation process started in January, but no petition was presented at the May full council meeting prior to Cabinet making its decision.

However, the Alliance are unhappy with how it was handled, and have filed a complaint to Shropshire Council.

"Councillors had to ask what it was they were debating, as they had not seen and had not been given a copy of our petition," said Marianne Aitken, a spokesperson for the group.

"Ruth Houghton, who spoke on behalf of the council, said at the start, before any discussion had taken place, that their decision was to close Helena Lane. She was reminded by the chair that the process was, that the debate is heard and then the decision given. Despite this reminder, she again said that the decision was to close Helena Lane.

"How can this in any way, shape or form be called a fair process?"

Council procedure rules state that, at the commencement of the debate, the petition organiser will be given up to five minutes (unless the chairman allows them additional time) in which to present the petition, after which there shall be a debate of up to 15 minutes duration. The appropriate portfolio holder will then reply, after which a vote will be taken, where appropriate.

"No vote was taken," said Ms Aitken.

"We request that our petition is reheard, as we feel that the process that took place was completely unfair and undemocratic."

Shropshire Council say the purpose of the petition debate was to allow councillors to hear and consider the views of petitioners in a public forum.

"The role of Full Council on this occasion was to consider and debate the petition rather than to revisit Cabinet’s decision," said a spokesperson.

"The presentation of a petition does not suspend or overturn an existing decision, nor does it automatically require a further vote. As Full Council was not being asked to make a new decision, no vote was required.

"Cabinet’s decision was taken in the context of low usage of the service and the council’s challenging financial position. It was not a decision made lightly, and we recognise the strength of feeling expressed by campaigners, people who use the service, their families, carers and staff.

"Hearing the petition nevertheless remained an important part of the democratic process, providing petitioners with the opportunity to place their concerns formally before councillors and ensuring those concerns were publicly debated.

"The ask of the petition was set out on the agenda papers, and councillors heard from the petition presenter who also asked the meeting questions.

"We appreciate that those who disagree with the decision will be disappointed by the outcome. The views expressed through the consultation process, the petition and wider engagement have been carefully considered and have informed the Council’s approach to supporting those affected by the changes.

"Our priority now is to work closely and sensitively with people who use Helena Lane, their families, carers and staff to ensure individual needs are fully understood and that appropriate alternative support arrangements are identified before any changes are implemented."