Cuts spark concern for day centres

riginally reported in Oxford Mail 28th Feb 2011

lBy Liam Sloan »

PENSIONERS are becoming increasingly worried council cuts could lead to the permanent closure of day centres.

Cheap transport to and from the centres has already been withdrawn for new users, and there are fears it will phased out altogether next year under £1.3m of cuts by Oxfordshire County Council.

Meanwhile, OAPs who use social services will be given council cash to spend on their care. This does not have to be spent at council-run services, such as the authority’s seven day centres.

It comes after the council itself said centres could be forced to close.

John Hewer, 96, of Headington, who attends Oxford Options Resource Centre in Horspath, said: “This is exactly what we have been saying, but the biggest problem is going to be transport.

“The centres cannot work unless there is transport laid on to get people here.”

And Bicester Day Centre user Bernard Bovingdon, 75, said: “We have made these arguments all along.

“If people do not come to the day centres, the centres will not get any revenue, they will not be able to pay the staff, and the buildings will close.

“We have told the council if they do not get this right, they might as well go ahead and close the day centres anyway.

“If they mess up the transport, that will close the centres because people will not be able to get there.”

He said he hoped users would continue to use the centre and set up their own transport schemes.

‘Impact assessments’ that the council has to draw up by law laid bare the risks to centres.

One said: “The implementation of budgets creates a financial risk for all providers of day services because they may not generate sufficient income to meet their running costs.

“Providers may also not be able to recruit staff if unit costs are reduced too low and it may be difficult to sustain and market a range of services.”

It adds: “Older people, especially in rural areas, could become isolated with a redesign in day provision that focuses on Oxford and the major market towns.”

Charities and business can bid to run the day centres.

The document says the proposals “are designed to ensure that the centres have the best possible chance of attracting service users”.

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Marcus Mabberley said no decision had been made how to save £1.3m from the budget of transport to day centres.

He said the council’s strategy for day centres would keep the same amount of money currently spent on them, and would “better reflect local needs across the county”.

He added: “This will mean that people will not have to travel as far as they may do now to access services and provision will be made at a more local level.”