Lambeth Liberal Democrats

Angry scenes at town hall as care for the elderly and vulnerable is cut

Hundreds of people protested at Labour cuts to social care services

Labour-controlled Lambeth, now officially the worst performing borough in London, last night became the least caring and most hard-hearted in the capital.

Amid scenes recalling Lambeth's chaotic political past, the new Labour administration pushed through its first budget, making savage cuts in care and support services for the elderly, disabled and vulnerable.

At one point the debate had to be suspended and the chamber cleared after angry objectors stormed into the public gallery demanding that Cabinet members come down and justify the changes to the estimated 500 people who had marched in protest through Brixton to Lambeth Town Hall.

Lambeth, which last week was downgraded by the Audit Commission to be the only One-Star authority in London, is to be the only London authority which will provide care solely to those in the "critical" category. Lambeth has up to now been supplying care services to those in "substantial need".

Even if "abuse or neglect has occurred or will occur" or "where there is, or will be, an inability to carry out the majority of personal care or domestic routines" (Department of Health definition of "substantial" need) a person will still not qualify for help from the Council.

In a further blow, Labour Lambeth will increase hourly charges for home-care services by a staggering 132% and introduce day centre charges of up to £35 a day for the first time ever.

Charges for home-care services are to rise from £7.55 per hour to £17.50, resulting in an hourly charge significantly higher than even the amount the council expects to pay to care providers (these are expected to be between £13.60 and £15.45). This will place Lambeth at the top of the league in London for home care charges and allow the council to make a profit from those receiving the service.

The Budget also cut £736,000 from vital funding streams to voluntary sector organisations within Lambeth will leave many struggling for survival. The voluntary sector operates services for frail and isolated older people, those with physical and sensory disabilities and long-term health problems, adults with learning difficulties, people with mental ill-health. They also provide help and backup for the thousands of carers who are invaluable to maintaining independence and quality of life.

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Ashley Lumsden, who led the opposition to the cuts and increased charges commented: "These cuts will have a devastating effect on those residents least able to fend for themselves and on hard-pressed carers. And there is absolutely no need for them."

"We pleaded with the Cabinet not to do this, and put forward an alternative budget making vast savings elsewhere in the council - in the bloated bureaucracy and expanding spin and public relations machine being set up under Labour. This has been a bad night for Lambeth, for democracy, but above all our most vulnerable residents who will have to bear the consequences."

Among the organisations which had written to councillors protesting is advice service DASL which says the cuts and increased charges would "cause immense, and possibly, irreparable damage to services for vulnerable adults and carers in Lambeth" and would "place many vulnerable adults at risk through the withdrawal or denial of essential social care services."

The cuts "at the expense of Lambeth's most vulnerable people would be morally wrong and financially short-sighted."

People First Lambeth, the only self-advocacy organisation in the borough for people with learning disabilities, said the savings would have "devastating effects on the lives of our members" while Lambeth Learning Disability Carers Forum has complained to council leader Steve Reed that carers would no longer be able to provide care and "the persons they care for may have to go into residential care, which would of course be more expensive for the Council."

Mencap said: "Those people who are no longer eligible for services and who will not be able to access some level of support from voluntary organisations because this is no longer available, will require higher and more costly levels of statutory interventions at a later date."

According to Southside Rehabilitation Association "people not receiving services will become more socially isolated and excluded" while "The whole package of cuts….will lead to a breakdown in caring relationships."