Parents of people with disabilities slammed Norfolk County Council after they were not sent consultation letters about controversial proposals which will affect their children.
County Hall said that this was due to an "administrative error".
Norfolk County Council recently agreed £42m of cuts and savings, including saving £1.2m a year by reducing the minimum income guarantee (MIG) for disabled people.
That is an amount of their income disabled people aged 18 to 64 can keep for everyday expenses after council-arranged home care is taken into account - so reducing it means the council can charge more for care costs.
The council sent letters to disabled people themselves, even though some have appointees or deputies - often parents or other family members - who make decisions for them.
ANGER OVER 'FLAWED' CONSULTATION
Judy and Nick Taylor (Image: Archant)
Judy and Nick Taylor, from Buxton, have a grown-up son with Down's Syndrome and are on the steering group of Disability Network Norfolk Group.
Mrs Taylor said their son had been sent the letter, when it should have gone to them.
She said: "That should never have been sent to him. He is not going to be capable of understanding what it all means.
"The consultation should have been sent to the appointees, those with deputyships and those with lasting powers of attorney."
Norfolk County Council's County Hall headquarters (Image: Mike Page)
The Taylors called for the "flawed" consultation to be halted.
Mrs Taylor said: "If someone with severe learning disabilities was helped to complete the form by a care worker who has no idea of that person’s financial situation, no understanding of the MIG or the ramifications to the disabled person, should their views be put forward? These responses will not be fair or correct representations."
WHAT THE COUNCIL SAYS
A spokesman for Norfolk County Council said: "Following the launch of our non-residential care charging policy consultation in late February, we wrote to over 3,500 people who could be affected by the changes.
“It recently came to our attention that, following an administrative error, the letter was only sent to those directly affected and not to their nominated individual.
“While many will have already seen the proposals, we have sent out a further 800 letters to ensure everyone has a chance to put forward their views."
The council said it would not extend or restart the consultation, which runs until May 17.
'SLAPDASH' AND 'FIASCO' CLAIMS
Labour group leader Steve Morphew (Image: Denise Bradley)
Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at Norfolk County Council, said: "Any reasonable person would expect thorough checks, sensitivity and the greatest care in any consultation.
"In fact, it's slapdash, reinforces the view it has been predetermined and misleads those affected into thinking they are being asked whether the cut should go ahead when in fact they are only being asked about how it will impact on their lives."
Green county councillor Paul Neale (Image: Norwich City Council)
And Green county councillor Paul Neale said: "This whole so-called consultation is a farce and, as the issue will affect such a vulnerable group, it is crucial the council gets a grasp of this fiasco.
"I already asked them to withdraw the current consultation because it was flawed in that they only offered two options - both of which were to reduce the amounts, without a third to not reduce the amounts."
Council bosses admit failure to send letters about crucial consultation
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31.03.2024
Parents of people with disabilities slammed Norfolk County Council after they were not sent consultation letters about controversial proposals which will affect their children.
County Hall said that this was due to an "administrative error".
Norfolk County Council recently agreed £42m of cuts and savings, including saving £1.2m a year by reducing the minimum income guarantee (MIG) for disabled people.
That is an amount of their income disabled people aged 18 to 64 can keep for everyday expenses after council-arranged home care is taken into account - so reducing it means the council can charge more for care costs.
The council sent letters to disabled people themselves, even though some have appointees or deputies - often parents or other family members - who make decisions for them.
ANGER OVER 'FLAWED' CONSULTATION
Judy and Nick Taylor (Image:........
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