Labour leader Cllr Steve Foulkes is appealing to all councillors to vote with their consciences on an amendment on the Care Homes that Labour is proposing at Wirral’s Budget Cabinet meeting on Tuesday night.

The amendment finds a way, within the current budget resources, to keep open Mapleholme, one of the five care homes scheduled for closure on March 31st, , which caters for those with learning disabilities.

It also allows the closure of the remaining four homes, Pensall, Poulton, Meadowcroft and Fernleigh, scheduled for March 31st, to be postponed for at least six months to make sure that proper alternative arrangements are in place, that service users and their families and carers have been properly consulted and that they are satisfied with any alternative arrangements. These homes provide much needed respite care and, in the case of Fernleigh, a therapeutic drop in centre for those with mental health problems.

Resources have also been found to keep the Home Assessment Reablement Team together, in the Council, as an integrated unit, with all their experience and skills, instead of splitting it up and putting part of the service out to tender in a market that may not yet have the developed skills necessary to deliver the services needed.

Cllr Steve Foulkes said:

“There has been enormous concern about the speed of change and lack of adequate consultation with those carers and service users at the sharp end of the service whose quality of life can be seriously affected by the decisions we take. Like many other councillors, I have received letters and e-mails and have heard from individuals who are personally affected.

This should not be a party political decision. This should be a matter of conscience for each member of the Council. We have been very careful not to include any politics in the resolution, and we believe it should be open to every member of the Council to vote with what they believe.

This is not a difficult decision. There are other ways of doing things. It is just a matter of slightly refocusing our priorities to make absolutely sure that the most vulnerable people on Wirral and their families do not suffer unnecessarily. Which is more important – chewing gum on our pavements or proper care for the elderly and vulnerable in our society?

It also makes good financial sense for the Council not to disrupt the very services that are designed to save money by preventing people going into permanent residential care.

All we need is ten members of the Council to add their vote to ours and we can deal with many of the problems that are causing so much distress at the moment. This should not be a matter for party whips. This should be question of individual choice.

Are there ten brave members out there who will put people before politics? Are there any Liberal Democrats out there prepared to break ranks to vote with what I know they believe? If you’re there, I am appealing to you to help us put this right.

I am appealing as well to the people of Wirral, who I know are caring people, to tell their local councillors what they want them to do at Budget Council on Tuesday. We are your representatives. If you care, pick up a phone or e-mail us to tell us what you want us to do on your behalf.”