Lawyers Representing Disabled Man In Consultation Legal Battle

A disabled man who is challenging Trafford Council’s consultation on plans to cut its budget for adult social care is to take his legal battle to court on Monday.

Trafford Council is seeking to cut its adult social care budget for 2015-16 by around £8m as part of a cost cutting exercise this year. The budget pays for support for disabled and elderly people to meet their social care needs.

The council held a public consultation on the plans but law firm Irwin Mitchell, acting on behalf of a man with autism and learning disabilities, has been given permission to bring a judicial review of the decision in a hearing on Monday 16th February at the Civil Justice Centre in Manchester.

Specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell argue the consultation did not properly present the public with any alternatives to cutting the budget for services and that the consultation should be quashed.

Other option to the cuts could have included using the council’s cash reserves or raising council tax to reduce the impact of the cuts.

Mathieu Culverhouse, the solicitor at Irwin Mitchell leading the case said:

Expert Opinion

This is an important case in helping to protect the level of services provided to vulnerable adults in the Trafford area.

“We have spoken with many people who would be directly affected by these cuts who are worried about the impact of the cuts. We have also been in contact with people who work in the care sector and disabled charities in the region, who are also concerned about the level of engagement with disabled people about the proposed cuts.

“We will be arguing that the Council has a duty to inform residents and especially those directly affected of its plans and the potential alternatives so that those residents can present an informed opinion on what they would like to see happen. Mathieu Culverhouse - Partner

The man bringing the legal challenge is a 46-year-old man with autism and learning disabilities who lives in a supported living placement and is dependent on 24 hour supported care. He is reliant on support to ensure he takes his daily medication, to prepare meals, to access the community and when completing household tasks. He has limited self-care skills and would be extremely vulnerable and at risk should any of the support he receives be reduced.

The disabled man’s mother said: “We never received any notification of any consultation and I’m deeply concerned about the effect it would have on my son and our family, as well as a large number of other disabled and vulnerable adults in the Trafford area.”

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