Fact Sheet: Darlington Borough Council Proposal for Cuts to Services and Increases in Charges

What are they and what you can do now!

This fact sheet aims to give information on the current proposals by Darlington Borough Council on the cuts to services and increases in charging to disabled people, carers and parent carers. DAD need your help to raise awareness of the affects, and give your views to the council.

We estimate there are approximately 22,000 disabled people, 11,000 carers and 700 young carers living in Darlington. The proposals will impact on the majority of people in some way.

DAD want to make sure that disabled people and carers can participate and have a strong voice as part of the current consultation and Equality Impact Assessment process, which ends on the 31st May 2016.

We know many disabled people and carers, do not have access to the information and meetings about the council proposals due to access, or may feel there is no point in being involved as it makes no difference. However if the views and voices of disabled people, carers and parent carers are not heard, decision makers and councillors will not understand how much these cuts will affect people. It is crucially important that the voice of disabled people and
carers are heard, and we urge you to help us do this.

How you can give your views and get involved:

• Tell other people such as family, friends or other disabled people and carers you know, and ask them to also give their views too.

• If you have access to the internet visit the council website to see the proposals. After each proposal there is a green button to click which takes you to a page to send your views.

• Speak to your local councillor; if you don’t know who they are contact the Town Hall on 01325 380651 who can tell you.

• Attend council meetings. For details of future meetings, as well as information and video footage of meetings that have happened already, please use this link to the Council's site

• We will be sending an e letter, which we will give updates. If you are not receiving this, contact us with your e mail address.

• We are sending out a short questionnaire, for disabled people and carers to let us know, how the changes affect you. This is available here in Word format only, or you can telephone us to complete over the telephone or get a different format. This information will help DAD give views and feedback to the council. However we would urge you also to give your feedback to the council, using the proposals viewing link.

Why the proposals are unfair?

DAD recognises that Darlington Borough Council, in common with other Councils throughout the UK is having to make difficult decisions about future spending on services. However the current proposals that the council are making, will mean the disabled people will be unfairly affected because:

• Disabled people have already been affected by other specific cuts in services in previous budget cut rounds.

• Disabled people like other citizens, are affected by all the cuts already, in addition to specific cuts to services for disabled people and carers.

• As well as budget cuts, the council are also proposing to increase charging for social care services for some groups of people, including carers. This further effects disabled people.

Details on Proposals Specific Cuts or increases to charging which are being proposed:

• Introduction of charging for Blue Badge Parking in council car parks.

• Ceasing to provide a concessionary bus pass which enables a carer to travel free when accompanying a disabled person who needs their support.

• Closure of Vane House, which provides support and training for people who have a visual impairment

• The introduction of charging for a social care service for Carers, which are identified in a Carers Needs Assessment.

• Increasing Charges for Social Care including people who live in Extra Care Housing, for Independent Living Equipment and for people who get the Enhanced Rate of Personal Independence Payment. For some groups of people the extra charge could be up to £27.00 per week.

• Reducing housing related support to vulnerable people, to live independently in their own home. 30 % of the people using this service have a learning disability, and 70% have a mental health need.

• Cease funding for information and advice services to DAD.

• Cease funding to Gay Advice Darlington to provide support to people who have HIV and AIDS.

• Cease funding toward the Deaf Club Social Club.

• Cease funding the council run Aspire service, which support people leaving school and college with a learning impairment to develop skills in readiness for employment

• Look at how they can meet the assessed needs of people who use social care differently, using lower cost options.

• Cease Funding to The Early Support (children aged 0-3 years of age) service of the Disability Life Stages Service.

There are a range of other cuts which we know disabled people and carers value:

• Key point of Access for Housing Support.

• Arts on prescription at the Bridge

• Mobile library

• Possible reductions in services from CAB and Age UK due to cuts in grants to the voluntary sector.

A full list of all the budget cuts on the Darlington Borough Council website can be viewed here

What DAD is doing?

• We have supported disabled people to feed back on the increases to charges.

• We have raised concerns to the council where we feel the consultation is not robust enough. In many cases they have changed their approach.

• We have developed this fact sheet, and will be available to answer any questions.

• We have attended meetings to raise concerns

• We have supported the Parents Forum and Peoples’ Parliament, a self advocacy group, to become involved and invited Cabinet Members and Officers to speak to the groups.

• Our Chief Executive and Chair Person have met with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Housing and Social Care to raise concerns

• We have taken part in a Facebook discussion with the Leader of the Council

• We are using the press to inform the public and raise awareness.

• We have developed an E Newsletter to keep people informed of changes, and how to give views

• We have developed a questionnaire to distribute to collect information on how people will be impacted multiply.

• We are sending DAD written responses as an organisation to the Council