Liberal Democrats question openness of County decision-making on Care Homes

4.26.31pm GMT Thu 13th Jul 2006

Cllr. Inga Lockington "Keeping members of the public in the dark until the very last moment is no way to run a council

Liberal Democrats on Suffolk County Council today lambasted the Conservative administration for failing to give proper time to consider amendments to key decisions about the future of adult care. The amendments, made to recommendations to the Council's Cabinet about the future of Adult Care Homes in Suffolk, were withheld until the beginning of the portfolio holder's report, despite being ready beforehand.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Adult Care and Community Services, Cllr Inga Lockington said after the meeting, "This is a highly delicate area of Council business and keeping both elected Councillors and members of the public in the dark until the very last moment is no way to run a truly democratic and open council. It is very important that, no matter what decisions are finally made, the standard of care for older people and for their families is maintained."

Councillor Kathy Pollard, Leader of the Liberal Democrat and Independent Group at Suffolk County Council added, "Once again we see the select cabal of the Cabinet refusing to let decisions be properly scrutinised and debated in public. We were told that the changes were made after advice was received from the legal and commercial divisions of the council, but it has been nearly two weeks since it was discussed at scrutiny and ten weeks since this issue last came to Cabinet: why were the legal and commercial implications not investigated until the very last minute? I can only hope that the final decision regarding the future of Adult Care Homes in Suffolk, whatever that may be, is made with more care and openness than the administration has shown today."