This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-birmingham-13455068
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Birmingham City Council care cuts ruling expected | Birmingham City Council care cuts ruling expected |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| High Court judges are to make a ruling on council care cuts that will have implications for all local authorities in England and Wales. | High Court judges are to make a ruling on council care cuts that will have implications for all local authorities in England and Wales. |
| In April they made an interim judgement that Birmingham City Council had acted unlawfully when it tried to cut social care funding for some disabled adults. | In April they made an interim judgement that Birmingham City Council had acted unlawfully when it tried to cut social care funding for some disabled adults. |
| The Conservative-Liberal Democrat run council said it had to save £212m from its 2011-12 budget due to funding cuts. | The Conservative-Liberal Democrat run council said it had to save £212m from its 2011-12 budget due to funding cuts. |
| A full judgement is expected at the High Court in London later. | A full judgement is expected at the High Court in London later. |
| 'Critical' needs | 'Critical' needs |
| Deafblind charity Sense said the ruling should be a warning to all authorities. | Deafblind charity Sense said the ruling should be a warning to all authorities. |
| Its head of legal services Kari Gerstheimer said other councils in England and Wales may be considering making similar cuts to social care. | Its head of legal services Kari Gerstheimer said other councils in England and Wales may be considering making similar cuts to social care. |
| "We hope that this judgement sends a very strong message to those councils, that we are in a climate of cuts. | "We hope that this judgement sends a very strong message to those councils, that we are in a climate of cuts. |
| "But even in a climate of cuts there are choices to be made and a civilised society does not choose to cut services to people with the greatest need - that's disabled people," he added. | "But even in a climate of cuts there are choices to be made and a civilised society does not choose to cut services to people with the greatest need - that's disabled people," he added. |
| The families of four severely disabled people fought Birmingham City Council's spending cuts decision and took their case to the High Court. | The families of four severely disabled people fought Birmingham City Council's spending cuts decision and took their case to the High Court. |
| The council said it planned to reduce funding for care services for up to 4,000 people in the next three years. | The council said it planned to reduce funding for care services for up to 4,000 people in the next three years. |
| Unlawful plan | Unlawful plan |
| It said it had identified £118m worth of cuts by 2014-15 from its adult and communities directorate and needed to save £308m in total in the next four years due to the central government cuts outlined in the Spending Review. | It said it had identified £118m worth of cuts by 2014-15 from its adult and communities directorate and needed to save £308m in total in the next four years due to the central government cuts outlined in the Spending Review. |
| It said only people whose needs were judged to be "critical" would qualify for council-funded care. | It said only people whose needs were judged to be "critical" would qualify for council-funded care. |
| The judges said the plan was unlawful as it failed to comply with Section 49a of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (c. 13) which relates to a public authority's duties towards disabled people. | The judges said the plan was unlawful as it failed to comply with Section 49a of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (c. 13) which relates to a public authority's duties towards disabled people. |
| The full ruling will be explained by the High Court judges later. | The full ruling will be explained by the High Court judges later. |
| Do you currently receive social care? Are you likely to be affected by the High Court ruling due later? You can send us your experiences using the form below. |