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| Isle of Wight Council care cuts unlawful | Isle of Wight Council care cuts unlawful |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The families of two autistic men have won a High Court case over cuts to social care by Isle of Wight Council. | The families of two autistic men have won a High Court case over cuts to social care by Isle of Wight Council. |
| A judge ruled the council's new eligibility criteria were unlawful and should be quashed by the court. | |
| Under the plans only vulnerable adults assessed as critical or at risk of becoming critical would qualify. | Under the plans only vulnerable adults assessed as critical or at risk of becoming critical would qualify. |
| Lawyers for the men said it was a "landmark judgement". Isle of Wight Council said the changes were in response to cuts in government funding. | Lawyers for the men said it was a "landmark judgement". Isle of Wight Council said the changes were in response to cuts in government funding. |
| Up to 2,000 vulnerable people on the island would have been affected by the changes planned for April 2012. | Up to 2,000 vulnerable people on the island would have been affected by the changes planned for April 2012. |
| Saving money | Saving money |
| Until recently the council followed a policy of meeting adult social care needs as long as they were "critical" or "substantial". | Until recently the council followed a policy of meeting adult social care needs as long as they were "critical" or "substantial". |
| However, in February the Conservative-run council resolved to cover these needs only if they involved issues of personal safety and accommodation. | However, in February the Conservative-run council resolved to cover these needs only if they involved issues of personal safety and accommodation. |
| It was attempting to save £1.6m by restricting council-funded care to the most pressing cases. | It was attempting to save £1.6m by restricting council-funded care to the most pressing cases. |
| In a statement, Isle of Wight Council said: "We will now need to spend time reflecting on the implications for both service users and the wider council budget before deciding on our next course of action. | In a statement, Isle of Wight Council said: "We will now need to spend time reflecting on the implications for both service users and the wider council budget before deciding on our next course of action. |
| "Throughout this process we tried to ensure that the methods used to consult and the content of that consultation would be understood by residents." | "Throughout this process we tried to ensure that the methods used to consult and the content of that consultation would be understood by residents." |
| 'Devastating' effect | 'Devastating' effect |
| It said it would immediately comply with the judge's decision and revert to the previous eligibility thresholds for care. | It said it would immediately comply with the judge's decision and revert to the previous eligibility thresholds for care. |
| Lawyer Alex Rook said: "If a council seeks to make cuts to its budget for adult social care, it cannot do so by only meeting certain needs designed to keep someone safe, but neglecting their overall quality of life." | Lawyer Alex Rook said: "If a council seeks to make cuts to its budget for adult social care, it cannot do so by only meeting certain needs designed to keep someone safe, but neglecting their overall quality of life." |
| The judicial review was brought by two men known only by their initials. | The judicial review was brought by two men known only by their initials. |
| "JM" was described in court as being aged 32, with severe autism and a brain injury dating back to his birth. | "JM" was described in court as being aged 32, with severe autism and a brain injury dating back to his birth. |
| He lives with his retired parents who are his full-time carers. | He lives with his retired parents who are his full-time carers. |
| "NT", the second claimant, is aged 31 and has autism and a learning difficulty. He spends the week in residential accommodation, returning to his mother at the weekends. | "NT", the second claimant, is aged 31 and has autism and a learning difficulty. He spends the week in residential accommodation, returning to his mother at the weekends. |
| She launched the court action fearing the council's new policy could potentially have a "devastating" effect on NT's quality of life. | She launched the court action fearing the council's new policy could potentially have a "devastating" effect on NT's quality of life. |