 |
East of England Liberal DemocratsNews and campaigns from the Liberal Democrats in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk |
Hertfordshire: Lib Dems Demand Probe Into Failing Scheme
November 30, 2006 3:00 PM
Liberal Democrats have called for an urgent review of the county's floundering Supporting People programme. The Tory led County Council has been savaged by the Audit Commission in a hard hitting report.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Nick Hollinghurst, Spokesman on Adult Care and Health, speaking at Tuesday's Council Meeting, called for urgent action and effective scrutiny to turn round this vital scheme.
He said 'The Supporting People scheme helps vulnerable people to live safely and independently. It requires partnership working across a range of agencies, particularly other local councils, the NHS and the Probation Service. I am concerned that with the Council's scrutiny arrangements now split between Health and Adult Care this vital scheme will fall between the cracks."
He continued, "The Audit Commission report makes sorry reading. The County's poor administration of this government funded scheme is failing vulnerable people right across Hertfordshire. Urgent action must be taken."
The programme has been given over £21 million of government money to help such groups as young people leaving care, people with learning disabilities, young people at risk, alcohol abusers and women fleeing domestic violence. Hertfordshire's main role is to administer schemes put together by local councils working with the PCTs, the Probation Service and with other specialist agencies.
However, the Audit Commission has blamed the lack of any clear strategy and weak money management for the high costs and the loss of many local schemes.
County Councillor Aislinn Lee, who is also the St Albans City and District councillor in charge of the City's housing said, after the county council meeting, "Herts County Council applies a brutal and crude measure to the cost of the schemes. They don't look at the benefits, they can't properly assess schemes for people with multiple needs and they ignore useful spin-offs such as better community safety. The Audit Commission rightly picked up on just these points."
"Many useful schemes have been denied funding because of the County's flawed approach to value for money. For example, an exceedingly effective and much needed scheme in St Albans, Open Door, which is a direct access service for homeless people, is facing a potential funding cut of £20,000. This would have a significant impact on the level of service Open Door would be able to deliver to these most vulnerable people. There is no alternative for them.
Additionally, schemes identified as priorities by St Albans are not being supported by the County as they do not meet the County's existing eligibility criteria for Supporting People funding. The Audit Commission report is forcing the County into taking action. But if it is really to address the damning criticism in the report, the County Council must recognise local needs and priorities."
She concluded, "They need to focus on outcomes and work to plug the gaps. Across Hertfordshire there are just 18 out of 580 alcohol abusers receiving support whilst 690 mentally ill ex-offenders are without housing related support. This state of affairs cannot go on."
Ends