Derbyshire: Consultations on budget cuts

As the council is looking to trim millions of pounds from its budget it has launched a constulation with Dales people to determine what they think of the cost–cutting measures.
County Hall, Matlock.County Hall, Matlock.
County Hall, Matlock.

Derbyshire County Council has launched six consulation regarding proposed changes to housing related support.

The authority will be consulting on a proposal to reduce the length of time a person with a learning disability can receive floating support from two years to nine months.

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It plans to reduce the young person’s housing–related support service budget from £1,031,367 to £172,182 from April 1 2015.

The budget for housing–related support services for people with mental health conditions will reduce from just over £1.8 million to £535,971.

The council plans to cut the funding for the Handy Van Network from £452,602 to £251,951 on April 1 2016.

Older people’s floating support would continue to run at a reduced level from 6,838 clients to 5,924, to be phased in from April 1 2015.

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The authority also plans to reduce the funding to mental health housing from £93,600 to £29,120 from April 1 2015.

Cabinet member for adult social care Councillor Paul Smith said: “We have been working hard to try to protect services where we can and we have every sympathy with the people this could affect and the organisations involved.

“However, we are facing unrelenting Government budget cuts which are the toughest in the council’s history, and we have some very difficult decisions to make.

“We have already been in discussion with providers of services which could be affected and people who use the services.

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“Now we have formally launched these six consultations I would urge people who use these services or could be affected to take part and have their say. No decisions will be made until this has happened and we have considered all the views given.”

The six new consultations will run until Friday, March 20 2015.