Quite disgracefully, the Cabinet member for Health & Adult Social Care has waved away all evidence and representations and wishes to push ahead with the closure of New Tyne residential home for elderly people with dementia.
This is now subject to a call-in period – so the decision cannot come into force until Monday 10 November. It is up to other Councillors to decide this week if they will push for further scrutiny of her decision.
BBC TV covered the story again in its news bulletins on Thursday 30th October. You can watch it below. Branch Secretary, Dan Sartin, was interviewed, alongside family members of those living at New Tyne. WSCC again refused to put up a spokesperson.
Weak evidence
As a reminder, the decision for closing New Tyne has not been properly made.
- WSCC has not undertaken a review of the service which has considered options other than closure; this is not compliant with Best Value obligations
- WSCC has not undertaken a public consultation which is necessary for communities and stakeholders to give their view
- The Select Committee asked for engagement to take place – but the Cabinet member refused to meet anyone, including staff and the families. Engagement has been flawed and not in line with the Select Committee’s demand.
- The Cabinet member dismissed a 2,000 strong UNISON petition signed by West Sussex residents. There is no evidence it was even considered. A request by the branch to meet with the Cabinet member was refused.
- The Council knows that residents’ age and frailty impact their ability to be safely moved to a new home. But it has failed to do Mental Health capacity assessments or any other kind of in-depth assessment of the real impact on residents of moving them out their homes. The Council has despite this given itself a ‘Green’ rating for the decision as having ‘no adverse effects on people’. This is wrong. The Council has not looked for or taken account of evidence of the impact its decision will have on the residents. Its Equality Impact Assessment is deeply flawed and should be challenged.
- Representations including those from the local MP Beccy Cooper and a District Council leader have been ignored.
- There is no evidence that UNISON’s detailed report submitted at the Select Committee was considered. No response to its points has ever been issued. There are simply no assurances this is a safe decision with so much detailed evidence not engaged with.
Members working at WSCC will note this approach to decision-making which devalues staff and their lifelong commitment to the services they deliver.
The branch is meeting with its members at New Tyne and considering further campaign options.