Last week's meeting of the Council Executive Board was like the three wise monkeys. Except there were nine of them.
Hear no sense, see no sense, and speak no sense.
Liberal Leader, Deputy Leader and Executive Member in charge of Social Services, David Foster, explained why, despite warnings from the Labour Group eighteen months ago, that Adult Care Homes should not be for sale, he decided to put three of them on the market for £3.6 million. He assured residents that nothing would change, they would not have to move home and they would be better off looked after by the private sector.
As we predicted, there was no buyers and thousands of pounds was wasted exploring this option. His next plan of action, in typical Liberal fashion, is to close one of the care homes. But rather than be honest about it he spouted that the reason for the decision was all for "the good of the users", "to improve the care of our older residents". They would have more carers per resident and a much improved quality of life, away from premises that were badly in need of hundreds of thousands of pounds of investment to make it fit to live in. This decision would greatly improve the quality of life for these residents, the accommodation would be much improved and he knows best, he has their interests at heart.
“David Foster has to save money to enable this coalition to waste money on a fitted kitchen for the Chief Executive, a 12% salary increase for Council bosses, and to waste thousands of pounds in consultant and legal fees.”
He added that staff would be transferred to increase the ratio of carers per residents, there would be some cut backs as domestics and gardeners would be surplus to requirements but as these were small numbers they would be found other jobs within the Council.
That is difficult to argue against, but when the true reasons for closure were revealed it emerged that what he really wants to do is cut £300 k from the staff budget, reducing the number of staff that care for the elderly, move residents into other homes and make them more "efficient". Cheaper by the dozen.
Families and residents would be consulted, however their opinions would have little weight as he must think of the bigger picture and the long term future of Care Homes. What he really means is, he has to save money to enable this Coalition to continue to waste money on a fitted kitchen (which I have seen, but not had a cup of tea from yet) for the Chief Executive, 12% increase in salaries for some of the highest earners in the Council, and to waste thousands of pounds in consultant and legal fees to explore these heartless options.
Why waste eighteen months if the care was so bad and the building was so bad and no one wanted to live there. Why was he not honest enough to take the tough decision at the time? Or is the truth of the matter is that there are no elections this year and therefore no one will notice what a mess he and his Tory alliance has made.
Typical Liberal, say one thing, do another.
The wise monkeys are alive and kicking in this Borough, unfortunately it is the most vulnerable they are kicking.
