News Release

14th November 2007

STAFFORDSHIRE COUNCIL ACCUSED OF 'MALADMINISTRATION AND BUMBLING INCOMPETENCE'

Following Staffordshire County Council's decision today to close the majority of care homes, Michael Fabricant has referred the Council to The Local Government Ombudsman on a charge of maladministration.

Michael Fabricant says: "Whether it be the closure of care homes, the fiasco of job revaluation with a third of council staff being told to take massive pay cuts, or the sale of Staffordshire owned farms, a common thread runs through them: ignoring the signs until it is too late and a major crisis being the consequence. This lack of foresight is unique to Staffordshire County Council. While other counties have addressed these issues early and resolved them, Staffordshire buries its head in the sand and hopes it will go away. If ever there were a case of 'a stitch in time save nine' this is it.

Meanwhile my heart goes out to residents of care homes, their relatives, carers and County employees who now have to make dramatic arrangements to their lives. Meanwhile council tax payers will have to bear the cost of employing independent consultants whose recommendations have been ignored by the Council.

"I do not believe the Labour controlled Council to be evil as some have said. I just believe them to be bumbling incompetents".

In his letter to the Ombudsman, Michael wrote, among other things:

"As with the job evaluation scheme, the issue of care home closures could have been handled far more humanely and effectively had the County addressed the matter some years back. Although the County was aware of funding difficulties for some time, no action was taken. This precipitated the present announcement of closures which will take place over a short period of time dispossessing elderly residents from their homes.

"I believe these are examples of maladministration and I would ask that you investigate this matter."