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Powys County Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Powys County Council urged to stop closure of day centres
Powys County Council has been urged to stop the process of closing some day centres as part of plans to reorganise services for adults with additional needs. Some day centres for people with learning disabilities, including Sylfaen in Llanidloes, are at threat of closing under a new model where services will be provided either through supported living providers or from alternative venues which are being developed. However, Powys County Council says that 'none of the locality-specific day opportunities plans are public yet'. READ MORE | Parents call for rethink over fears for future of 'life-changing' day centre Plaid Cymru councillor Elwyn Vaughan has called on the council to carry out a 'proper' impact assessment before making any changes to services which affect the county's most vulnerable people. 'The Equality Act 2010 (Statutory Duties) (Wales) Regulations 2011 is perfectly clear in its expectation that a full impact assessment is done before any attempts to change a service is implemented,' Cllr Vaughan said. 'Yet here we are with Lib Dem-led Powys Cabinet deciding to close this and another two valuable centres without such an impact assessment specifically for these centres and only after taking the decision consulting with families, those using Sylfaen and staff. READ MORE | Multiple day centres across Powys face the axe under new council plans 'The process should involve working with all parties in identifying needs before taking any decision not after. All that's happening is consulting now after the horse has bolted to justify a decision they've already done, hence the only fair and transparent step that should be taken is to stop the process, take stock and work honestly with families before taking any further steps. 'Additionally, we're being told that they want to save £277,000 yet I've been told by some in charge of the process it's not about saving money. Which is it, therefore? 'It seems to me they're trying to rush this process through now during the summer in the hope that everyone is away and it won't be noticed. 'The reality is this is a valuable, important facility and if we can't look after some of the most vulnerable in society then what the heck are we trying to do? What are the values one is pursuing. Let's stop it now and conduct the process in the correct way.' In response, Powys County Council's Cabinet for a Caring Powys, Cllr Sian Cox, said: 'None of the locality-specific day opportunities plans are public yet. 'When we are able to make them public, I will write direct to town and community councils and to all of those organisations which have engaged with me during the review process; they will be the first to know'.
Powys County Times
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Opinion: Lib Dem led council must not close Powys day centre
They say 'a society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable'. Yet as highlighted in last week's County Times, the future of the Sylfaen centre at Llanidloes is under threat. Sylfaen is a Powys County Council-owned day service in Llanidloes which offers service users aged 19 to 72 a programme of sensory-based activities including soap making, sensory craft, gardening, cooking and day trips. Yet there are fears that it could close under Powys County Council's Liberal Democrat-led cabinet. Bearing in mind that Disability is a Protected Characteristic under the Public Sector Equality Duty, public organisations have to consider the potential impacts fully and share the impact assessment with those affected. With that in mind, we need assurance that a full impact assessment about the closure of Sylfaen has been done and not a mere tick box. The general duty of the Equality Act 2010 (also known as the Public Sector Equality Duty or PSED) sets out that those subject to the duty must have due regard to the need to: Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act. Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. In Wales, the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) goes further and contains express provisions about engagement (Regulation 5) and equality impact assessments (Regulation 8) which are not present in the English PSED. Regulation 8 (1) of Equality Act 2010 (Statutory Duties) (Wales) Regulations 2011, states that: a. assessing the likely impact of its proposed policies and practices on its ability to comply with the general duty; b. assessing the impact of any: 1. policy or practice that the authority has decided to review, 2. revision that the authority proposes to make to a policy or practice, on its ability to comply with that duty; c. monitoring the impact of its policies on its ability to comply with that duty. The reality is Lib Dem led Powys expect volunteers and Direct Payments to plug the gap yet as is well known that's merely further pressure on carers and families.
