Hundreds protest plans to close Hove care homes (From The Argus)

It is clear to the Greenies that those in care homes don't drive so are useless as a tax cow, they don't cycle so cannot be seen as being green with a small G so therefore should be moved into the slums of Brighton to fade away, quietly if possible

Hove Actually is out of order. Councils, may have to close homes -- the problem is, that can upset their inhabitants, so beware! Surely the worst option, given the scandals we read about, would be to hand any homes over to the private sector; care homes are a milch cow for unscrupulous owners, and though not all are in fact like that, how do you tell beforehand?

"We are acutely aware of the sensitivities around asking people with learning disabilities to move house."

You might be acutely aware but you are not in their shoes.Peoples Health needs whether they are Mental or Physical or both should be a priority over anything else and that includes Cycle lanes and the i360.

Here we go again, shortage of money so have to make cuts....yes, but where? We cant give up our safe jobs in our bureaucratic empires, let close a couple of old peoples homes and sack the care workers...that will save us £600k per year. No, how about useless bureaucrats who sit in air con offices, whiling away the day on facebook and dreaming up new ways to frustrate and anger the council tax payers who pay our wages and gold plated pensions...

Maybe Councillor Rob Jarrett should be reminded of the first priority of the Greens manifesto.

The first priotity is (caps are from Green's manifesto):
'RESIST TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, THE SERVICE CUTS AND PRIVATISATION IMPOSED ON LOCAL COUNCILS BY THE CONSERVATIVE AND LIB DEM GOVERNMENT'.

Newsflash Rob: Whilst the government is cutting subsidy to councils it is not imposing service cuts or privatisation. Those are decisions for local councils to make. Therefore you have to make choices between keeping vulnerable people in their homes or funding vanity projects like One Planet Living or the i360.

The manifesto goes on to make further promises:

'In the coming years of austerity a strong leadership that champions the needs of all vulnerable people will be of critical importance'.

Newsflash Councillor Rob. This means YOU have to show strong leadership as Chair of the Adult Care and Health Committee.

'Greens will continue to work with others to oppose government cuts to vital social care and health budgets'.

Newsflash Councillor Rob: The homes in question are Registerd Care Homes and therefore budgets are not limited but are driven by need. That means that whilst they are open the council has an obligation to fund the care costs. The government cannot cut the funding.

'We also believe services are better provided by public and third sector bodies whose first duty is to provide care rather than profit for shareholders'.

Newsflash Councillor Rob: If you close these homes the residents moving out will have to move into private homes that make a profit for owners.

'We will continue to to resist the further privatisation of care, which often leads to the provision of poor services'.

Newsflash Councillor Rob: Er, aren't you meant to be doing this?

The manifesto then goes on to list Green achievements including:

'Campaigned and spoke against closure of day centres and older people's homes such as Vernon Gardens'.

Question Councillor Rob: Why did you campaign against the closure of older people's homes whilst you are willing to close homes for people with Learning Disabilites? Could it be that they are easier to ease out as they have less of a voice?

It then says under the heading 'GREENS WILL' , 'Resist continuing privatisation and cuts to social care services'.

So councillor Rob as you settle down in your nice comfy home where you feel secure, put your slippers on and sip your mug of Horlicks ,ask yourself, 'will I resist'? Will I protect the homes of the most vulnerable in the town so they can fel secure as I do and enjoy their Horlicks as I do. Remember what happended to Councillor Summers when she when against party policy. You too could be hauled before the Ministry of Love if you don't tow the party line. Your colleagues have already sold out your Green principles by concreting over the Level and felling trees in Wild Park. Are you going to sell out the most vulnerable by turfing them out of their homes. If you do, the least you could do is provide them with free tickets to go up your i360 vanity project, where you don't seem to have any trouble lending £14million to a private investor. Please make a stand on this Councillor Jarrett.

The Baby Boomers are coming up for retirement, old age and Alzheimer's. The numbers of care homes will have to increase, not decrease.

Mysteriously the council's disabilities champion - a Green councillor called Stephanie Powell - who opposed the cuts was substituted and replaced by a more compliant Green councillor called Sue Shanks who supported the cuts.
And Tim Ridgway has it right in the intro when he writes "Hundreds of people have now protested against plans to shut two Hove care homes" - unlike the headline which misses out the word "against". It comes to something when the copy editors are illiterate.