ITS NOT CONSULTATION, ITS DICTATION

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 11th Apr 2008

5,000 signature petition indicated strength of feeling within community about the loss of the centre

KCC Members have asked officers to think again about the closure of the QEF Bridge Court Centre for people with a physically disability. This followed action by Liberal Democrat spokesman for Adult Services George Koowaree who called in the decision to close the centre for further discussion by KCCs Cabinet Scrutiny Committee.

This enabled Mr Koowaree to ensure that two of the centre's users, Sonia Mallion and Peter Wright appeared before the committee as witnesses and were able to put questions and make comments directly to County Councillors. They pointed out that though they were being consulted on the closure, they had not been offered any suitable alternative provision as required. Several alternative facilities suggested by KCC had been found to be difficult to access by disabled people.

The Committee agreed that the Kent Adult Services Managing Director should be requested to reassess the needs of all local people and consider whether as a result of those needs, a centre should be kept open.

Officers have tried to explain the lack of a formal consultation document and process by the fact that they did not own the centre. Members were not impressed and advised that the same consultation process should always be used since to ensure that people using the service were always fairly treated.

George said "When I met with those who attend the Queen Elizabeth's Resource Centre in Brent Way, Dartford I discovered they had not been properly consulted on the proposed changes to their services. Individuals need to know what the alternative facilities are before they can reply to the consultation; without that, its not consultation, its dictation. A 5,000 signature petition also indicated the strength of feeling within the local community about the loss of the centre. I am pleased that Committees recommendation on consultation has been accepted and I shall be watching to ensure that any centre proposed for Dartford and Gravesham meets the needs of the Bridge Court users as well as able bodied residents".

The meeting of the Cabinet Scrutiny Committee is available as a webcast http://www.kent.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/democracy-and-elections/webcasts.htm