Irvine Times | News | YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE

Saturday, 5th July, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 12th March, 2008 12:00

YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE - BUT YOU BLEW IT

By Kevin Dyson

COUNCILLORS were blasted as a “disgrace” by onlookers as they dismissed a last chance to reconsider the controversial decision to scrap sheltered housing wardens.

Council Chambers were packed to the gunnels last Wednesday as SNP Group Leader Alan Hill put forward a motion calling on the council to re-open the plan for discussion.

However, those who had backed the decision at last month’s budget meeting stuck to their position, voting 15-13 in favour of not re-examining the issue - sparking shouts of “disgrace” and “shame” from watching sheltered housing residents.

Cllr. Hill argued that the only thing that his party had asked for was to delay making a decision until they had more facts to examine, adding that their position had remained the same.

He said that the assessments being carried out by social services should have been made before any decision had been made.

The SNP member also argued that alternative options should have been presented before the council should the decision to remove the wardens have been deemed necessary anyway.

However, in order to have the matter discussed once more the SNP would have had to secure a two-thirds majority of the council.

A roll call vote was called for and the vote eventually ended up with 15 councillors - Labour and Liberal Democrat members - voting against Cllr. Hill’s motion.

The decision was greeted with derision and anger by over 50 residents and family members of sheltered housing complexes who had travelled from all over North Ayrshire, with some even being turned away as the chamber filled up.

However, Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Chamberlain was unrepentant in his view that the correct decision had been taken.

While admitting that a consultation should have taken place he said: “The case that Social Services made for this change has stood up to all of the points of objection that have been raised.

“We remain convinced that the move from wardens to care assistants and an enhanced alarm system will leave vulnerable elderly people inside and outside of sheltered housing safer and give many of those who require care an improved service. Revoking the decision now would achieve nothing except delay and extra cost to the tax-payer.”

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