|
||||||||
Three years of shame. Three years of mismanagement. Three
years of teetering on bankruptcy. Three years of victimising the vulnerable. Three
years of eliminating social care. Three years of discrimination. 
WELCOME TO THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT
SRAP HEAP FOR DISABLED PEOPLE
LONDON BOROUGH OF LIB-DEM RICHMOND UPON THAMES
COUNCIL
**The
Liberal Democrat scandal **
Task
ForceHome Page
All content is without
prejudice. Disability UK is Europe's TOP disability site. We have no affiliation
with any other group.
Breaking
News:
Richmond Social Services 'Children and Families'
unit, under external investigation. Following in the wake of recent
national scandal and previous 'cover up' internal investigations. This
notorious department are facing an external investigation into serious
allegations of abuse towards the disabled.The charges levelled against the notorious
department, including use of terrorising tactics, gross departmental mismanagement
and deliberate lying to conceal facts. A spokesperson for Disability UK stated
"Their discriminative reign of cover up's, barbarism and terror will soon be
over in this borough."
See our 'Mole in the council
Hole' for inside truths. (At bottom of page)Liberal
Democrat Councillor in porn scandal
March 20, 2001 A councillor has been caught
repeatedly visiting pornographic Internet sites on a council-owned computer
late at night. The council is refusing to name the man, who was reprimanded after
an internal investigation.
This week there were calls for the man to resign,
to lift a cloud of suspicion hanging over all male councillors, and the council
pledged to tighten up the code of conduct for councillors. SO WHICH SENIOR
COUNCILLOR IS IT? YOUR GUESS!
Elderly lives 'put at risk'
Lib-Dem Richmond worst offender in London.
Friday, 13 October, 2000
Thousands
of elderly people may go into homes needlessly. Thousands of elderly people are
ending up in hospital or nursing homes because they are not getting the right
help at home, government figures reveal in a review of social services. Lib-Dem
Richmond features in all reports of 'low care' standards.
Ofsted slams
defective Liberal Democrat LEA
February 16, 2001 9:50: The Governments schools
inspectorate, Ofsted, has savaged Liberal Democrat Richmond's Local Education
Authority for a wide range of failings, ranging from ineffective management to
poor financial planning.The report, published this week and based on a thorough
inspection last November, highlighted 10 key areas where the Liberal Democrat
LEA is failing schools and pupils and concluded: These weaknesses constitute a
seriously defective performance in some of the most basic areas of LEA work.
Fury as hall goes on sale
March 2, 2001 10:07: Residents in Mortlake,
the most deprived part of the Liberal Democrat borough, have been dealt a severe
blow this week after cash-strapped Richmond Lib-Dem Council decided to sell-off
the building earmarked as their new community centre.The councils resources committee
agreed to place Alexandra Hall in Cromwell Place on the market after hearing it
had become surplus to requirements. The hall had been used by social services
as a day centre for elderly dementia patients before they were transferred to
Barnes Hospital. Now the Liberal Democrat council wants to recoup money from the
site by placing it on the open market, to the anger of residents who have fought
a long and bitter campaign to have the needs of their ward recognised. The Mortlake
2000 report, commissioned by Richmond Council for Voluntary Services (CVS), revealed
a shocking level of deprivation in the Liberal Democrat neighbourhood. It pinpointed
a need for a community centre within the town to act as a focal point for residents
and to provide much needed social facilities.
Child's removal by Lib-Dem
Social Services was an 'outrage'
First published on Friday 03 November 2000:
Black child forcibly removed from the white foster family (Richmond Comet October
20).Colleagues are outraged that the Liberal Democrat council has acted in this
way, and ashamed that the Lib-Dem borough could do this to a small child and a
family just trying their best to help. Everyone is appalled that not only would
social services tear a child away from the only real family it has ever known
but also, that they would threaten the family with jail if they spoke out.
Lib-Dem Council 'failed' in inspections
First published on Thursday 05 October 2000:
Liberal Democrat Richmond Council's inspection and registration unit has been
rapped by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) for its failure to conduct adequate
inspections at old peoples' homes in the borough. The SSI was highly critical
of the unit's failure to complete many of its statutory inspections of Liberal
Democrat council controlled and independent residential homes in Richmond.
Investigation into adoption controversy in Liberal Democrat Richmond
First published on Monday 30 October 2000:
There is to be an internal investigation into the way Liberal Democrat Richmond
Council handled a controversial adoption battle earlier this month. The decision,
which related to the council's refusal to allow white foster parents to adopt
a black child in their care. (Reported on last week's front page) The Conservative
group called for an independent inspection into the actions of the Liberal Democrat
social services department by a judge. Leader of the Conservative group, Councillor
Tony Arbour said: "We need the decision of an independent judge... " He said:
"The actions of the social services department have brought this council into
disrepute..." But this was voted down by the ruling Liberal Democrats.Councillors
were heavily gagged at the meeting about what could be said about the case. Subject
of an earlier blanket injunction insisted on by the Liberal Democrat council but
which has now been partially lifted after being challenged by the press.
Homes report blasts Lib-Dem council
First published on Friday 29 September 2000:
The Social Services Inspectorate has savaged Liberal Democrat Richmond Council's
inspection and registration unit for failing to carry out adequate inspections
on old peoples' homes in the borough. The SSI inspected the unit in March and
was highly critical of its failure to complete many inspections of Lib Dem council
controlled and independent residential homes in the borough. And it found that
the unit failed to take strong action against home managers who failed to adequately
look after their elderly residents.
Financial crisis hits the Lib-Dem
council
First published on Friday 14 July 2000:
Council deputy leader Councillor Serge Lourie announced on Monday that the council
was already £1.5 million over budget and its reserves have sunk to £1.3
million - enough to keep services running for just three days.The shock announcement
at a resources committee meeting has provoked alarm among the borough's voluntary
groups and fury among the council's critics who have accused the Liberal Democrat
administration of financial incompetence. Community groups that represent the
interests of the elderly and those who rely on social services reacted with concern
to the likely cuts.Conservative group leader Councillor Tony Arbour attacked the
council for failing to notice such a serious shortfall in its budget at an earlier
date. He said: "This is the second successive year that the council has said it
will try to put more money into its balances. "With the sum of balances now indicated
we have only three days expenditure."The leader of the Labour group, Councillor
Michael Gold, echoed his criticisms
Concern at Liberal Democrat cuts
to elderly and disabled
First published on Friday 29 September 2000:
Services for the elderly and disabled are set to undergo a radical shake-up under
proposals to slash £1.8 million from the social services budget as the Liberal
Democrat council battles to make £6.5 million savings. The proposals have
provoked widespread concern among voluntary groups which fear the changes will
place existing services under increasing pressure and will lead to the introduction
of stricter eligibility criteria for residents requiring day-to-day care. A package
of proposals was presented to the council's social services committee on Tuesday,
including significant reductions on the budget for home care and funding for the
residential care of people with learning disabilities. Conservative group leader
Tony Arbour criticised the Liberal Democrat council for penalising some of the
most vulnerable groups in the borough. Cuts in the day centre services and residential
for people with learning disabilities also came under attack. Many people with
learning disabilities attend centres outside the borough, which have the facilities
to cater for their needs. Ron Franklin said: "Richmond does not have the facilities
for people with learning disabilities. "You have to have the facilities in the
borough otherwise there is going to be a shortfall in care."
Why are
the Lib Dems closing us down?
First published on Saturday 30 January
1999:
The closure of Mortlake CRC, a Day Service for adults with learning
disabilities. Just before Christmas we all had a meeting with two people from
Social Services. They talked to us about money. They said there is not any money
to keep this place open. We don't understand everything they said about cutbacks
but we all feel very sad that we might have to leave Mortlake.One question that
most of us ask is why are they doing this to us? Why don't they tell us everything?
We have set up a good day centre. We have got to know our local community. We
have made our centre look nice with artwork and decorating. We have dancing, drama,
singing, art, music, computers, cooking. We have meals together from the Mortlake
bakery. Some of us have jobs here which we'd lose. We go out together on our minibus.
But most importantly we have made lots of friends. We are worried about where
we will go. We do not want another big change in our lives. What can we do to
keep this place open? We all want to fight to save it from closing down. We have
tried to say in our own words why we are upset and unhappy.
HOME CARE
STRIKE FEAR - Fat Cat Liberal Democrat Councillors
First published on
Saturday 03 October 1998:
Home care workers who visit elderly and vulnerable
Richmond residents in their own homes are threatening industrial action in protest
against changes to the way they work. And public service union UNISON this week
claimed the scanner sheets cause anxiety and confusion to many clients, providing
a constant reminder about the money now pouring through their fingers for the
service."UNISON branch secretary Steve Cowan said: "We totally oppose the commercialisation
of this vital local social service to the elderly. Most people assume that the
Council Tax they pay goes towards such services and they are horrified to learn
that money is spent instead on Liberal Democrat fat-cat payments to dodgy consultants."
Lib-Dem Richmond shuts another Pensioners day centre.
First published
on Saturday 31 October 1998:
In a bid to save yet more money, cash-strapped
Liberal Democrat Richmond Council is proposing the merger of two old people's
day centres. Many pensioners suffering from dementia will face the upheaval next
April as services at Alexandra Hall in Mortlake are transferred to Barnes Green
Day Centre. Liberal Democrat Richmond Council, which is facing a multi-million
pound budget squeeze, predicts a saving of more than £30,000 a year when
the Mortlake centre shuts its doors. One of the biggest fears among the elderly
at the centre is lack of space when the two centres merge. They fear more active
pensioners could be squeezed out next April.Since retaining power in May's local
elections, Richmond Council's ruling Liberal Democrats have closed two day centres
for the elderly, Meadows Hall and St Luke's in Kew.
Lib-Dems want
to shut our schools, sell off old folks homes, cut housing .....and raise council
tax!
First published on Saturday 19 September 1998:
Liberal Democrat
Richmond Council's dash for cash gathered pace on Wednesday night as members of
the borough's housing committee discussed the first step of a plan to let private
firms take over the running of its housing stock.Opposition councillors put the
brakes on the privatisation, but it could still be approved at a special full
Liberal Democrat council meeting next week. The controversial housing proposal
was just the latest in a series of cost-cutting measures considered in the four
months since the ruling Liberal Democrat group retained control at May's elections.
From our Lib-Dem Council 'Mole in the Hole'
Many areas of Lib Dem Richmond's management
found lacking by a recent Benefits Office investigation. They found "significant
weaknesses". "lack of procedures". "poor verification". "no internal quality control".
"no training strategies". "lack of proper appeals procedures". "staff kept ignorant".
And, as usual the mismanaged Lib-Dem's "accounting processes have significant
scope for improvement". All key issues were lacking. Our Liberal Democrats have
promised (as usual) to put it all okay and not be naughty again. "Ahem".
MORE from our Liberal Democrat Cllr 'Mole in
the Hole'
Social Services have been struggling and failing to
recruit, train or retain social workers for over TWO YEARS. In particular social
work practice team workers. Most existing workers lack the skills and qualifications
needed to perform their job, with poor wages and conditions failing to attract
new professionals. (We are also told that many senior staff have recently dumped
the department and moved to better pay and treatment elsewhere.)
These web site links are listed as a convenience to our visitors. If you use these links, we take no responsibility and give no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of these third-party sites.
Home:
Sitemap:
© Disability UK - Richmond - UK
