Petition to keep Helena Lane Day Centre to be discussed

A lengthy – and at times emotional – debate took place on Wednesday (June 10) when Cabinet was being asked to approve the closure of 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 building, Shropshire Council believe the day centre doesn’t offer value for money, with the service costing an average of £332.82 a day for five people to attend.

To make it viable, 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 is been a lack of publicity and the fact there is a waiting list proves there is demand.

“The service has been run down year on year by the previous administration,” said Gill George, who is also the chair of Shropshire Defend Our NHS.

“The council simply doesn’t know what the demand is because it’s a service that has been run in secrecy. It is not publicised, it is not in the council’s service directory. The existing users found out by chance [that is closing] through word of mouth.”

Councillor Ruth Houghton, portfolio holder for adult social and health, denies that it has been run down, adding that the council responded to Freedom of Information requests in the required timeframe.

“This service has been available, we have taken a view that we should look at it differently because of the costs,” she said.

“The leader and chief executive have received a letter from UNISON which raises a number of concerns around equalities and we are very clear the issues raised in this letter have been addressed within the report.

“We have conducted two equality impact assessments – one at the beginning which was a general one and a second one which takes into account the feedback received through the consultation.

“It’s not about taking support away from people and it’s not about shutting the building, it’s about delivering a support service in a different way where we can meet people’s needs. So it is with great regret that we are asking to close the day service at Helena Lane.”

Derek Young, whose wife Jill is a service user, said no alternatives have been offered unlike Aquamira Learning Disability Day Service, a Shrewsbury-based service that will be moving a short distance to Abbots Wood.

“All we’ve been offered is closure,” said Mr Young.

In response, Councillor Houghton said: “We are in a position with Aquamira to relocate and those people have very profound and multiple disabilities.

“Where we are with Helena Lane, we really do wish to undertake a statutory Care Act assessment for all those people who are affected.

“And in that way, we can identify what other needs are required to be met and it is genuinely possible to meet those care needs in a community.

“There is the possibility for them to have personal support, to access items in the community, it’s just going to be different. It’s not a lack of support if anyone is eligible.”

Mr Young’s sister, Dawn Coss, pointed to a petition that has gathered over 1,000 signatures, meaning that it has to be debated by full council.

However, the authority said this cannot happen until July 16 – after Cabinet had debated it.

“How can you make a decision to close a business when you haven’t yet debated that petition?” asked Ms Coss.

Councillor Houghton said: “The petition is a separate piece of work to a Cabinet executive decision.

“The petition, under the council constitution, will go to full council for debate and the wider council can obviously comment. But this decision is being based on the full business case that is being taken, the consultation, the equality impact assessments and the report in front of Cabinet colleagues.”

Ms Coss explained that the petition was previously sent to the council.

The leader of the council, Heather Kidd said the authority was aware of it.

“It’s not like we’ve ignored it,” she said.

“It’s just, under the council’s constitution, it has to go to full council.”

Ms Coss replied: “So what’s the point in debating it afterwards then when a decision has already been made? It doesn’t feel right at all.”

Councillor Kidd responded: “Had it come in earlier before the last full council, it wouldn’t be where we are now.”

Councillor Duncan Kerr, leader of the Green and Progressive Independent Group, said “it’s nonsense” that the petition will be discussed next month and asked if the Cabinet decision could be deferred until after then.

“We are setting a template here for many more difficult decisions we are going to have to make, and we’ve got to learn as an organisation how best to engage with the public on those,” said Councillor Kerr.

Councillor Dawn Husemann, leader of the Reform UK Group, agreed that the decision should wait.

However, Councillor Houghton said there have been been plenty of opportunities for petitions to come forward, with the consultation process starting at the beginning of the year.

“I will go with the majority decision if it’s going to be deferred, but I do feel that we will go through the same agenda discussion again,” she said.

Councillor Kidd added: “A thousand signatures mean just as much to us if it goes to debate or not.

“I would really value you to campaign with government to change the rules and regulations around all of this, as that would be the most helpful thing so we don’t have to make these decisions in the future.

“None of my Cabinet will be accused of not caring because we do, really deeply. But we are thinking about everybody in social care, not just the individuals who I care deeply about now.

“This is not an easy thing for any one of us, and I have campaigned on the other side. And that’s that. I propose we look at this but work with those individuals so we give them the proper care that they need to go forward.”