'Disgust' over disabled cuts plan

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A service which provides free care for disabled children could be ended as part of a plan to try to save £5m.

Wrexham council believes it could save £31,000 by cutting the Daybreak service, which provides disabled child care during school holidays.

Independent councillor Mark Pritchard, who tried to block the proposals, said he felt "physically sick" at the plans.

The service is run by Wrexham-based charity Dynamic, but the council said no decision had yet been made.

The service provides free care for disabled children and their siblings for up to eight hours per week during school holidays.

I'm absolutely disgusted that as a council we are considering this as a budget cut Councillor Mark Pritchard

According to a council report which has identified potential savings in several areas, the service has been accessed by 100 children.

However, the report states: "It is proposed that the contract with Dynamic to provide its Daybreak Service is not renewed. This will generate a saving of £31k."

The report added that "a significant proportion of the cost of the scheme is taken up with salary and admin costs," and claims play services for disabled people have increased in Wrexham in the last two years.

Mr Pritchard tried to have the proposals scrapped at a meeting of the council's executive board on Tuesday.

However, after a split vote of five for and five against council leader Aled Roberts made the casting vote to keep the proposals.

Mr Pritchard said: "This has made me physically sick. I'm flabbergasted.

"I'm absolutely disgusted that as a council we are considering this as a budget cut.

"Of course, I understand these are difficult times, but when we're considering cutting a service that caters for disabled children for the sake of saving £31,000, it's a disgrace.

Concerned parents

"Councillors who voted for this should hang their heads in shame.

"There are many, many ways to save money. Any of the local authorities in Wales looking to save money should look from the top down."

Mr Pritchard said his phone had been "ringing off the hook" with calls from concerned parents, and vowed to fight the proposals.

Mr Roberts said: "The purpose of the executive board meeting was to provide members with more information on specific savings and pressures.

"Nothing has been decided yet and further work needs to be done before we come to a decision."

Nobody from Dynamic was available to comment.