Letter to the Editor: Voluntary groups were not consulted

I would like to correct the statement from “a council spokesman” who said the voluntary sector groups were consulted ahead of the adult care and health overview and scrutiny committee meeting (on February 4).

• Voluntary services helping blind and disabled hit with £42,500 cut by Wandsworth Council

There was no formal consultation, let alone negotiation.

Some groups may have been advised informally, but others only heard about the proposed cut in their grant when they read the publically available committee report, for example, Arthritis Care, the Wandsworth and Balham Gateway Club and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Nor was the notion that during 2015 some organisations would have their tasks put out to a tendering process.

Even though most organisations are small groups, they provide much needed vital help to housebound disabled people with physical or learning difficulties.

The likely consequences of the cut are that these groups will close down.

It is not accurate to say this will help provide “value for money”.

These budget cuts will lead to reduced services and help for the most vulnerable people.

These cuts are also likely to increase the cost of services when disabled and vulnerable people are not able to support themselves living independently in the community.

The council spokesman talked of “the council having to take tough decisions”.

It is not “tough” to hit those people least able to defend themselves, like housebound people with disabilities.

Every element of a 15 per cent cut in funding will result in 15 per cent less services to the most vulnerable in our community.

There surely have to be better ways of saving £0.35 in band D council tax?

TONY TUCK
Chairman Wandsworth Older People’s Forum

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