CITY COUNCIL'S NEW LEARNING DISABILITY CHARGES ARE "HEARTLESS AND SHORT-SIGHTED" SAY GREEN COUNCILLORS

Green Party councillors are condemning as "heartless and short-sighted" plans by Labour-led Brighton and Hove City Council to charge adults who have learning disability needs for day care services, which were previously free of charge.

The proposals to subject approximately 150 learning disability adults who currently enjoy free day care services to 'means-testing' were narrowly approved at the Council's Adult Social Care and Health Sub Committee on March 22 in a five - four vote.

The Council says that day care charges for learning disabilities should be brought into line with day care charges for older people and adults with physical disabilities, who are already means-tested. This would result in learning disability adults facing a maximum charge for day care services of £15 per day in 2004/5. Many service users, however, would not qualify to pay t