COUNCIL TO KEEP WIGHTCARE IN-HOUSE

I have issued the following press release for tomorrow:

SCRUTINY CHAIR WELCOMES DECISION TO KEEP WIGHTCARE IN-HOUSE

After the Scrutiny Committee enquiry last Spring into the Council's proposal to privatise their Wightcare homecare service the Council has decided to keep the service in-house.

The Scrutiny recommendations last June that the privatisation proposal be deferred whilst a full financial Review was undertaken was accepted by the Council Cabinet, and an independent Review has been undertaken over the last 3 months.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Geoff Lumley, has been advised by staff that the Review has recommended the Council keeps the Wightcare homecare service in-house, to ensure a mixed economy of homecare on the Isle of Wight, and that this recommendation has been accepted. Homecare staff were told at a meeting last week by the Director of Adult Services and Cabinet member.

Cllr Lumley said, "I am delighted at this decision, which reverses the Council's budget decision to privatise Wightcare. I am sure that the Scrutiny enquiry conducted by myself, Cllr Deborah Gardiner and Cllr Brian Mosdell, went a long way to securing a change in Council policy as it became clear that this excellent and popular service was not being allowed to compete favourably with private operators. The evidence given by three Homecare organisers to our meeting last April was very powerful indeed. If anyone had doubts about the value and influence of Scrutiny I would suggest that this will lay them to rest."