Vulnerable people will be driven to suicide by "devastating" adult social care cuts warn campaigners

Merton Council leader Stephen Alambritis and 24 other councillors including the cabinet member for adult social care Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah voted not to increase council tax by two per cent at a Labour group meeting last night.

Nine councillors voted to increase council tax.

December 2015: "We all have our breaking point, and all you can do is try your best": Carers speak against Merton Council cuts

The extra money from an increase would have raised £1.7million for adult social care in Merton - which would have eased the pressure of £5million budget cuts this year.

October 2015: Facing the axe: Meals on wheels and adult social care services, but at least council tax will stay frozen

A protest will be held ahead of a scrutiny meeting outside the Civic Offices in Morden tonight from 6pm, with local councillors and residents showing their concern about the proposed cuts by holding wheelie bins to symbolise council spending on waste collection instead.

Coun Alambritis, pictured below, said he is a businessman and promised to freeze council tax for four years, which he is standing by.

It comes after a council consultation on people's views about how to save council money at the end of last year.

Healthwatch Merton has condemned the scale and impact of proposed "devastating" cuts in a report titled the Voice of those Affected.

It details the concerns of 72 people who will be affected due to having learning or physical disabilities or sensory impairments, or being mental health service users, older people and family carers. 

These concerns include fears that it will make people "more vulnerable to exploitation" and more isolated, that mental health will suffer and that families will be unable to cope with the extra reliance of their loved ones.

One commented: "It’s like social cleansing, they are trying to get rid of the people they don’t need."

Another said: "Even with medication, I won’t be able to handle it, I will go up the walls, there will be nothing to interest me. Life will not be worth living."

The council is looking at plans to implement £5million of cuts to adult social care services, as part of £15 million of savings that need to be found by March this year.

Services facing the axe include meals-on-wheels, the South Thames Crossroads Service, which provides support and respite to carers, the Imagine Independence charity, which works with vulnerable adults suffering mental health difficulties.

Speaking about the Labour group vote, Lyla Adwan-Kamara from Merton Centre for Independent Living said: "The council has made a clear choice not to raise council tax and are choosing not to support the most vulnerable people in our borough.

"Unfortunately the consequences of that will be the old and disabled people are made vulnerable and isolated.

"The recent Healthwatch report, which councillors have seen, show that people will be driven to suicide as a result of these policies.

"That's something very devastating."

Coun Alambritis, leader of the council, said: "I promised residents a four year council tax freeze and if there’s one thing you can say about me I keep my promises. I’m a businessman and I believe in running a business-like council, making what we do more efficient so we can continue to deliver the services people need the most.

"Tough decisions have to be made because the Government has slashed our funding, but we will make those decisions fairly, balancing the needs of all our residents, whether they need social care, are looking for a school place, want their street kept clean, or just want to pay less.

"Residents know this isn’t easy but I’m glad we are able to freeze council tax again, as it will help residents on low incomes who are feeling the pinch, and it proves we do what we say we will do."

Outspoken Labour councillor Peter Walker slammed Coun Alambritis' decision today.

He wrote: "As a Labour Councillor for one of the most deprived wards in Merton, I cannot remain silent while we as a council reject the opportunity to protect the mentally ill, adults with learning disability and some of the most vulnerable and elderly frail in Merton ... I plead with you, even at this late stage, to reverse your policies and defend those most in need."

A final decision on proposed cuts will be made on February 15, and will be discussed in full council on March 2.

Healthwatch Merton describes itself as working to help local people get the best out of their local health and social care services.

The report recommends the council urgently reviews and reduces the scale of cuts, commissions an independent report into the impact of cuts and suggests that those making decisions on the cuts should spend time with those who will be affected by them, in order to better understand their concerns.

It concludes: “The expected impact and consequences of the cuts proposed are extremely significant."

To read the full report, visit: http://www.healthwatchmerton.co.uk/news/voice-those-affected