The Moray Conservative Councillors group have won a debate on the new National Care Service Consultation at the next full council meeting in Moray following significant concerns about the impacts to the authority of the new consultation from the SNP. The new plan was devised on the back of the Feeley report, which looked into the huge impact on care homes due to the COVID pandemic.
The national care plan put forward for consultation goes well beyond the remit of the Feely report, being described by local authority joint body COSLA as an ‘attack on localism and the rights of local people to make decisions’. The plan as set out in the consultation pulls in far more than adult social care, also including areas currently covered by local councils including Children and young people, community justice, alcohol and drug services and social work.
Commenting on the plan is leader of the Conservative group Cllr Tim Eagle (Buckie Ward);
“It is clear to anyone involved in adult social care that there are huge challenges to overcome, staffing remains a key concern and the Scottish Government have failed to provide the support needed to ensure we can provide a good wage and training opportunities to staff. The recommendations of the Feeley report were broadly supported by many but what emerged last week were plans that ripped at the heart local councils democratic input into not just adult care but areas like children’s social care and community justice.
“I fear this is less about trying to respond to the Feeley report and more about the SNP’s enduring centralisation agenda, destroying piece by piece local input into services."
“We all want a social care system which puts people at its core, that reduces beurcracy, pays good wages with good career opportunities and delivers for the most vulnerable in our society. Someday perhaps the SNP will realise the best way to deliver that is in partnership with local people and local councils rather than in the hands of a few in the middle of Edinburgh.”
“After contacting the chief executive of Moray council and the health and social care chief officer I am pleased that they have agreed to bring a report to the full council meeting on 15th September so that we can provide an input to the consultation response.”
Further commenting is former Moray IJB Chair and current Conservative IJB lead Cllr Frank Brown;
"The Feeley report which recommends setting up a national care service is very much welcomed in that it addresses the woeful service currently on offer. However this SNP government consultation goes much further by proposing the transfer of locally provided services for children and justice. It is a naked attempt by the SNP to further limit local decision making and democracy by central control. It seems they have learnt nothing from the pandemic where the evidence is that local councils are best placed to provide for their communities with the role of central government being to provide the necessary financial resource”
