Call for 'urgent clarity' over Lancashire elderly care homes and day centres

Azhar Ali has called for a resolution on the services - five care homes and five day centres - to be reached at a cabinet meeting next Thursday (5th February).

It comes after the ruling Reform UK group at County Hall last week declared that it planned to invest in the homes, removing the prospect of closure that had hung over the premises since they were placed under review back in October.

The authority carried out a public consultation into all 10 facilities late last year after deeming them to be in “significantly poor” physical condition. While it stressed that no decisions had been taken, campaigns to ‘save’ the services nevertheless sprang up across the county, leading to petitions signed by thousands and a march and rally in Preston earlier this month.

The county council’s cabinet had been due to come to a decision at their gathering next week, but that date was pushed back until later in the spring in order to allow proper consideration of all 1,600 consultation responses.

However, the Reform administration’s announcement last week about its investment plans for the homes put the group ahead of the official county council process, which is yet to conclude - meaning nothing has yet been officially confirmed.

Now, County Cllr Ali - who leads the opposition alliance of independent and Green Party councillors at County Hall - has written to the authority’s leader, Stephen Atkinson, calling for clarification on a series of issues.

He wants the cabinet meeting to be used as an opportunity to confirm, formally, that neither the homes nor the day centres - which did not feature in the investment pledge - will close and that the homes will not be privatised.

His letter also requests a timetable for when the investment plans will be brought forward and for the details of any ongoing public or private sector discussions on the issue to be declared, even if only in confidential briefings to councillors.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), County Cllr Ali said residents, service users and staff needed the confidence that plans were being pursued through official decision-making channels.

He said it was a matter of “ensuring good governance and transparency”.

“At the moment, there is no cabinet instruction [about what is being proposed],” County Cllr Ali added.

He said if the cabinet did not discuss the issue next week, the opposition would seek to convene an extraordinary meeting of the full council.

The LDRS approached Lancashire County Council for comment.

Announcing the investment plans last week, cabinet member for adult social care Graham Dalton said: “Our priority has always been – and remains – doing what is right for the people of Lancashire who rely on our care.

“That’s why our review into the model of care across Lancashire has identified that investment is long overdue.

“Lancashire residents expect and deserve high-quality social care services. We’re committed to innovation and investment that ensures services remain safe, sustainable and fit for the future. Our existing care homes must receive the investment they deserve.

“Residents should be in no doubt that our administration is thinking of families and the workforce when we make decisions. Many have been understandably anxious during this process which is why we will share the conclusions of this review with you at the earliest opportunity.

“The Reform group and Lancashire County Council would like to thank all stakeholders that have taken part in this process. Our commitment to enabling Lancashire residents in our care to live meaningful lives is unwavering.”

Shortly after that statement was issued via Reform UK in Lancashire, a Lancashire County Council spokesperson said: “We went out to consult on the future of our care homes, because we wanted to hear directly from residents, families and our workforce about what matters most to them. The council has not made any decision at this stage.

“Now that the consultation has closed, officers are analysing all the feedback and preparing a full report for cabinet in spring, where councillors will review the findings before making any formal decisions.

“Under the legal requirements of our consultation process, no formal decision can be taken until the consultation has concluded, the findings have been fully analysed, and a detailed report has been presented to cabinet for consideration.

“It is imperative that we follow the correct legal and democratic procedures and take the time to ensure residents’ voices are fully taken into account. Until that process is complete, no decision can be made by the council.

“We would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views during the consultation. We understand how worrying and unsettling this process has felt for many people, but rest assured that your feedback is essential and will play a meaningful role in shaping the recommendations.”

The care homes that form part of the county council review are: Favordale (Colne), Grove House (Adlington), Milbanke (Kirkham), Thornton House (Thornton Cleveleys) and Woodlands (Clayton-le-Moors).

Meanwhile, the day centres being examined as part of the process are: Byron View (Colne, attached to Favordale), Derby Centre (Ormskirk), Milbanke Day Centre (Kirkham, attached to Milbanke care home), Teal House, (Thornton Cleveleys, attached to Thornton House) and Vale View (Lancaster).