Council defends ‘scrutiny’ over Bryneithin home

Friday, 19 March 2010

TIM CHAPMAN

THE Leader of the Vale Council has defended the scrutiny process over Bryneithin Care Home, after an opposition councillor claimed that if proper scrutiny had taken place, legal problems would have been identified earlier.
In December last year, the Vale Council made the decision to close the home, which cares for elderly people with dementia.
However, last week, the residents heard that their legal challenge over an “anticipatory breach of contract” had been successful, and they would be able to see out the remaining years of their lives in Bryneithin.
The Leader of the Vale Council, Coun Gordon Kemp, said remarks made by the Plaid opposition leader on the council, Coun Nic Hodges, amounted to an “intemperate tirade”.
Coun Nic Hodges claimed a council u-turn could have been avoided.
He said: “I find it astonishing that it has only just come to light that the residents’ contracts protected them from being forced out and the home being closed.
“This shows a serious lack of judgement by the Conservative-run council and I must question the procedures that nearly got us to incorrectly close this precious facility.”
Coun Hodges went on: “The scrutiny process was severely undermined by the chair of the social care and health scrutiny committee, Tory member Coun Sophie Williams, who personally refused at least three requests from my members for ‘call in’.
“In fact we have had 13 refusals on ‘call ins’ on scrutiny this year compared to no refusals in the two years before.”
Coun Hodges also said that a debate may have revealed the legal issue that led to the u-turn.
“Coun Williams has clearly put party and position above the very important process of proper scrutiny.
“I feel that if the scrutiny committee had been allowed to debate the facts, the legal question over contracts would have come to light.
“Her inexperience and naivety have caused nothing but misery and unnecessary distress for the families of the residents and her position is now untenable. She should go now before she does more harm.”
Coun Kemp told The GEM that Coun Hodges remarks showed a lack of understanding of the matter.
“Following the decision to allow the current residents of Bryneithin to remain, I offered the leaders of the other groups on the council a briefing on that decision to be given by myself, the cabinet member and the director.
INTEMPERATE
“Unfortunately, Coun Hodges has not taken up that offer and this is reflected in his intemperate tirade, in which he demonstrates a lack of understanding of the issues involved.
“The offer does, however, remain open to him.
“His attack on the scrutiny process ignores the fact that the scrutiny committee considered the matter fully on December 17 with a wide range of members, together with family members and other interested parties, speaking and putting their views strongly, including Coun Hodges. If he failed to raise issues then, that was a failure on his part and blame cannot be directed at the chair of the scrutiny committee.”
Coun Kemp added: “Coun Williams, despite the impression given, did allow ‘call-ins’ resulting in the matter being considered and gave every opportunity to the one member of Coun Hodges’ group, who submitted requests to redraft them, so that they could be considered.
“Coun Williams has not received any complaints from that member nor from Coun Hodges.”

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