County council "kicking the vulnerable"
POLITICIANS and union leaders rounded on Notts County Council ruling group yesterday and accused the authority of "kicking the vulnerable".
Opposition councillors criticised the authority's plans to sell off all 13 residential care homes, shut day care centres, hike the cost of meals for elderly people and start charging for day care services.
Liberal Democrat councillor Steve Carr told a full council meeting that it was a "depressing day for Notts County Council".
Labour leader Councillor Alan Rhodes accused the ruling Tories of "kicking the vulnerable".
Outside during protests, Mike Scott, Unison's joint branch secretary at the county council, said: "It is the ones who have the greatest need that suffer the most. People are just horrified."
Ravi Subramanian, Unison's regional head of local government, said it was "disgusting" that no Conservatives attended the demonstration to speak to council staff.
The previous Labour administration had planned to invest £19m in Extra Care villages, but also to shut four residential care homes.
Defending the new plans to sell care homes, Councillor Mel Shepherd, cabinet member for adult social care and health, said the decision avoided them being shut.
He said after the council meeting that the authority was looking to create 160 Extra Care places at five new centres which would be run privately.
Labour were in turn accused of neglecting older people while in power because some care homes had fallen into disrepair.
6 Comments
by l, Notts
Saturday, November 07 2009, 12:33AM
“I completely agree about the NJE. David however, on another thread, feels that NCC staff should take a 5% pay cut in order to keep their jobs. I suppose this is fine for those that haven't already had thousands cut off their salary through NJE already. And before David posts that NCC staff can afford to lose thousands from their pay packet, the ones affected by NJE are not top earners and earn far less than the national average.”
by Broke, County Hall
Friday, November 06 2009, 10:56PM
“Well said noddy. You must be aware that the Job Evaluation is devastating but no one who isn't effected cares. I am going through the appeal and it looks like I am going to have to sell my house as I won't be able to pay my mortgage. In my 50's and never been out of work from leaving school at 16. No the union is crap.”
by Noddy, Toyland
Friday, November 06 2009, 10:42PM
“David you really should shut up. How the hell can you say that Unison is only bothered about their members paypackets when in the last two years they have stripped the workers of thousands of pounds with a crazy job evaluation which has left staff having to sell their houses. Unison are scumm labourites who don't give a toss about the members. So shut it.”
by l, Notts
Friday, November 06 2009, 4:20PM
“If she had any backbone she would have turned up. Instead she sent someone to do her dirty work. Cowardly behaviour and a sign that she is Tory indeed.”
by Mr. Sensible, The Real World
Friday, November 06 2009, 11:24AM
“David, what she also said was that services would be cut.
Which of course they would!”
by David, Keyworth
Friday, November 06 2009, 8:44AM
“Ravi Subramanian, Unison's regional head of local government, said it was "disgusting" that no Conservatives attended the demonstration to speak to council staff.
I don't see why the should have. It is not as if they would have been given a chance is it. usual bully tactics.
UNISON are just out to make trouble. Dont be fooled by their pretence to care about public services they are only bothered about their members paypackets. Otherwise why would they strike at the most inconvienient time for the public.
And some woman at the demonstration yesterday was banging on about loosing 13 weeks holiday. Makes MPs expenses seem reasonable!”