Opposition Lib Dem and Labour Councillors on Walsall Council are deeply concerned about plans for the future of adult social care supported employment and day services for people with learning difficulties.

In a joint statement the Leaders of both opposition groups on the Council, Cllrs Sean Coughlan and Ian Shires have taken the unusual step of calling for an urgent item to be put on next week’s Health and Social Care Scrutiny Panel ahead of February’s Cabinet where a final decision is expected..

The issue was the subject of lengthy debate by the Panel back in November. The outcome was inconclusive and concerns were passed back to the Cabinet. Since then the Cabinet has included the proposals in their Budget Consultations only adding to an already anxious situation for those affected.

A number of Councillors on the Scrutiny Panel have visited Links to Work which is based at Electrium Point, Short Heath, Willenhall. Rather than clarify the issues it appears that they came away with more questions than they had answers.

As well as Links to Work being at Electrium Point the NHS have people working from there as does the adaptations service and others. This makes it very unclear when it comes to understanding how costs are arrived at for running the site, how come this service is paying rent to the private sector when it could be housed in council owned property.

It’s important to ensure that users of the service have the opportunity to gain the skills they need to be able to move into meaningful employment that requires specialist training. People with disabilities have a tough enough time as it is, they deserve closer investigations around what their futures might be.