Motion to 'block book' Leuchie House defeated
Bryan Copland • Published 26 Jan 2012 09:28
7 Comments
COUNCILLORS have refused to back a motion by the leader of East Lothian's Labour Group to 'block book' respite places for county residents at North Berwick's Leuchie House care facility.
Councillor Willie Innes, along with fellow Labour councillor Donald Grant, presented a motion to a meeting of East Lothian Council in Haddington on Tuesday asking the local authority to "negotiate a block contract with Leuchie House to help offset the shortfall in respite places in East Lothian".
Mr Innes argued that "hard-pressed carers" could not access respite but "as luck would have it, there is a solution" and said that the local authority and Leuchie working together would be like a "marriage made in heaven".
However, councillors have instead supported a motion by council leader Paul McLennan (SNP) to continue to discuss opportunities with Leuchie House ahead of a report into its respite strategy due in August.
Having previously only offered respite for multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers and staved off the threat of closure, Leuchie House is now an independent charity, which has extended the service it provides to include all people coping with long-term physical conditions.
Since last April, it has fundraised to the tune of £250,000.
The facility said it was "delighted" that it will be involved in ongoing discussions regarding the respite strategy.
Speaking to the Courier last week ahead of his motion being discussed, Mr Innes had said that the move would be a "real win-win for the council, Leuchie House and most important of all some of our most vulnerable citizens".
On Tuesday, a vote was held for both motions.
All seven Labour members and independent councillor John Caldwell voted in favour of Mr Innes's motion, while SNP, Lib Dem and Conservative members - 15 in total - abstained for the vote.
However, the same 15 backed Mr McLennan's amended motion to "continue to discuss current respite opportunities with Leuchie House" and "to remit officers to report back to council upon completion of the respite strategy in regard to Leuchie House" - while Labour and Mr Caldwell abstained.
It meant that Mr McLennan's motion was instead carried forward, having gained the backing of the majority of councillors.
Mr McLennan told the meeting that the council needed to
"look at opportunities to work with Leuchie House".
Councillor Jacquie Bell (Lib Dem) was concerned that by block-booking places some beds could lay empty - preventing people from "all over the United Kingdom and sometimes abroad" from making use of the facility.
She said it was "important" to wait for the results of the strategy.
While Councillor David Berry (SNP), North Berwick Coastal member, said he could "fully sympathise" with Mr Innes's proposal but said he felt the move would be "premature".
Responding to the views of opposing councillors, Mr Innes claimed that the council "has block contracts already providing respite in the private sector" and said it was an "absolute joke" that carers were not receiving the respite they needed.
Leuchie chief executive Mairi O'Keefe was on holiday this week but a spokeswoman for the charity said: "We are delighted that Leuchie House will continue to be included in ongoing discussions regarding the local authority's respite care strategy and look forward to opportunities to contribute to the provision of high-quality respite care in East Lothian."
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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mike52
Unregistered User
Jan 27, 10:00
Report commentSo the other 15 Councillor's voted to wait till the report in August hopefully after the may election's this very sensible solution proposed by Councillor Innes will be implement given much needed respite Care to our vulnerable Citzen's
Recommend?
Yes 3
No 3
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Socialist
Unregistered User
Jan 27, 10:04
Report commentYet again the SNP and other parties have let themselves down only LABOUR CARE.
Recommend? Yes 4
No 3
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realist
Unregistered User
Jan 27, 14:45
Report commentNo socialist - Labour make grandstanding gesture and offer to throw money to make themselves look good and caring when the reality is that a review of supply, demand and need coupled with responsible financial stewardship requires to be carried out.
Old Labour = Old Irresponsible squandering of resources.
Recommend? Yes 2
No 6
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Socialist
Unregistered User
Jan 28, 14:51
Report comment -
mike22
Unregistered User
Jan 30, 10:21
Report commentRealist
you have know idea what you are talking about this was a solution that would which has been pointed out would be good for the council and also more importantly the cares who are in need of Respite this is not about political point scoring which your ill thought out comment's suggest but about coming up with a solution which will suit all
Recommend? Yes 3
No 0
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Nationalist
Unregistered User
Feb 2, 11:26
Report commentMike/Robert
Why dont you ask the "Carers of East Lothian" organisation who thought this was premature and are working with the council in Respite Strategy?
Robert - Labour Care? -is that why the SNP Administration spend 45% more than Labour and treat 30% more people than Labour on Adult Social Care
Recommend? Yes 1
No 2
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Socialist
Unregistered User
Feb 2, 14:20
Report commentWell done Paul facts and figures as usual may I refer you to this weeks article.
How is the campaign, your photo in the other paper looks like a man with a lot of worries.
Recommend? Yes 0
No 0
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