Are Tories ‘good with money’?

Refurbishing a kitchen and bathroom just before you want to sell a property might make sense for an average householder. However the decision by Conservative controlled Derbyshire County Council to consult on closing Ladycross House care home in Sandiacre after they have recently spent tens of thousands on refurbishment does make you wonder if they have a coherent plan for care provision in the county.

In a BBC article, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-60166520

Janet Burns, whose mother Sylvia lives at Ladycross House, said she felt angry it was once again facing closure.

"They've just spent £68,000 on a new kitchen, the bathroom is state-of-the-art, everything was carpeted, reupholstered, and now they want to close it," she said.

She said that her mother had dementia and she feared she might "lose her" if she was forced to move out.

"My mum will be so much more confused. These carers know her habits, everything," she said.

"I just don't think she'll be here long if they move her."

Ladycross House is one of 7 care homes run by the County Council that the authority have said "required significant maintenance and refurbishment."

They are;

• Beechcroft, West Hallam
• East Clune, Clowne
• Holmlea, Tibshelf
• The Spinney, Brimington
• Goyt Valley House, New Mills
• Gernon Manor, Bakewell
• Ladycross House, Sandiacre

The authority launched a 12-week consultation last month offering three options for the future of the seven facilities.
The options are to

• refurbish the homes,
• close them and move the residents to another local provision
• close them and move the residents to any available provision.

They stated that "If it is decided the homes will be refurbished residents will still need to leave for up to 40 weeks while the work is carried out".

However, in a surprise move, the Conservative chair of the Improvement and Scrutiny Committee (People) proposed at their January meeting that the option to refurbish the homes not be recommended.

Quite how that leaves the 'consultation' is uncertain but it does suggest that the new kitchen in Ladycross House is unlikely to get much use.

Good value for the Council Tax payer? We think not.

The Lib Dems have a petition calling for Derbyshire County Council to think again on their Care Home policy. You can view and sign it here; apps.derbyshire.gov.uk/applications/petitions/petitions-list.asp