Sherwood Industries' furniture factory for disabled workers set to close
NOTTS County Council has confirmed it plans to close a furniture factory which employs people with learning and physical disabilities – with 45 jobs set to go.
The authority is planning to stop funding Sherwood Industries in Rainworth, with staff either being offered other jobs within the council or voluntary redundancy.
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Notts County Council is to close the Sherwood Industries factory in Rainworth.
This is despite 82% of people who responded to a consultation saying it should stay open.
Sherwood Industries has been running since 1934 and has been manufacturing and supplying furniture to schools, colleges and universities since the 1960s. The business costs the authority more than £830,000 to subsidise in the last financial year.
Kevin Rostance, cabinet member for adult social care and health at the council, said: "This was a hard decision to make, but the furniture industry has seen a sharp decline in recent years.
"Every effort has been made to try and turn its fortunes around, but outside factors such as the downturn in the market have made the business unviable.
"But we have to do right by the taxpayer – and we will not be leaving the people at Sherwood Industries on their own. If the proposals get the go-ahead, then we will start a process of matching skills to other available positions."
The plans to close Sherwood Industries went out to consultation in October.
Out of the 196 questionnaires received by the council, 161 said they didn't want the business to close, and only 21 – or just over ten per cent – of people agreed the centre should close.
Stuart Wallace, deputy cabinet member for adult social care and health, said: "Plenty of people are against the closure, but most of these respondents were either people working there or related to them, which is fine because they are entitled to their opinion.
"But no-one has offered a solution into how to run the service which costs the taxpayer increasingly more to subsidise."
The council said it expected Sherwood Industries to be closed by the end of the year.
Unions, disabled people's groups and opposition parties have been speaking out against the closure since it was first mooted in September last year.
Speaking at the time, Lisa Jones, vice-chairman of Notts Disabled People's Movement, said: "We are aware of the issue and feel that disabled people are being disproportionately affected. We are opposed to redundancies of disabled people – it will significantly reduce what quality of life they have."
The move to close Sherwood Industries will be discussed at a full council meeting next Thursday.
The county has also revealed it will look to close its Horticulture and Work Training Programme at Sherwood Pines and Worksop. The council was looking at shutting down three sites, but the one at Balderton will stay open, and the number of users increased from 60 to 70.
Mr Rostance said: "I am pleased we have been able to come up with a solution which not only retains the Balderton site and makes the required savings, but also increases the number of placements available for service users."
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by kent14
Thursday, February 16 2012, 2:32AM
“vox you are absultly spot on.”
by Arno_Vale
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 10:37PM
“Vox-Pop has a point.
Looking at the County Council's statement of accounts for last year shows just where this bunch's priorities are.
in 2009/10, only 3 employees earned more than £125k, of which one earned between £180k-£185k.
By 2010/2011, a whopping 19 earned more than £125k - with one on over £190k and 6 on over £150k.
That just shows where their priorities are - feathering the nests of their mates and be damned with the disabled.
Disgraceful.”
by Vox_Populii
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 9:44PM
“For the cost of 20 overpaid HR people and professional managers, who do nothing but manage managers, they could've kept this going. Those people in jobs of dubious worth would find it much easier to get a new job if they're of such high value. The disabled people who work at Sherwood Industries will now have little if no opportunities now, other than some token roles in the voluntary sector perhaps.
This isn't just about them working, but having day to day involvement in something that gives them a quality of life and being able to do something enjoyable but moderately challenging. It gives them a feeling of worth, a quality of life, a sense of participation in society and regular social contact, and now nothing.
I despair what our society is coming to thanks to professional decision makers who will do anything to preserve their own tax-payer funded empires with scant regard to the social cost.
This sort of scheme is what the public sector should be about along with strong social care provision free from the hands of profiteers, yet all we'll be left with is a bunch of highly paid ingrates who sit twiddling their thumbs all day and inventing problems where there are none, in order to justify their own existence.”
by mattgaltress
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 5:37PM
“Listening Council indeed...”
by rdc180368
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 3:40PM
“We need to throw these despicable Tories out at the county election next year. They say they haven't got the funds to carry on supporting Sherwood Industries, but they can always find money to fritter away on their own ideological pet projects such as the A453 widening and money for refurbishment of schools that they KNOW have already applied to Michael Gove to become academies and so have no intention of remaining within Nottinghamshire County Council's "jurisdiction".”
by rdc180368
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 3:17PM
“The County Hall Tories led by Mrs Cutts have dealt too many blows to the people of Nottinghamshire already, although this arguably represents a new low even for them. It's made all the worse by the fact that they appear to enjoy doing what they're doing so much.”
by ROOME101
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 1:26PM
“The county council lead by Herr Cutts are a disgrace - why was Sherwood Industries' furniture factory never given any publicity? I never knew it existed.- Have they sold anything to local schools in the last couple of years? Going back further did the Labour run County council do any business with them? Also has the place got a website where you can view their products on line and if not why not?”
by whyler
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 9:51AM
“I would like too ask k cutts if she is proud of herself for this disgraceful act and ruining disabled peoples lives what are they going to do next. there is not many jobs for the abled bodied so what chance have they got. money should not come into it this time . this council is evil and uncaring !!”
by Arno_Vale
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 9:50AM
“When it comes to decisions like this, they certainly confirm that Oscar Wilde was right about the man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing.
What was the point of a consultation if they choose to ignore the result?
And what's next? Reopen the workhouses for the poor and infirm?”
by Max_Crater
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 9:29AM
“This country, along with the rest of the West is effectively bankrupt. The lifestyle we've all grown accustomed to is coming to an end. Sadly, I predict, more of these valuable schemes will be shelved over the next few years as the cloth is cut accordingly.
After a decade of growth, one would've hoped some money could've been set aside for tough times like these, but out politicians lack the foresight, knowledge and understanding required to a bath, never mind a country.”