CITY council bosses have pushed ahead with service changes which will see people with learning disabilities given money to manage their own transport, rather than rely on council buses.

Last night the council’s executive waved through plans, despite concerns from carers and charities that some people could struggle to use public transport.

Adam Gray, the adult social care manager who presented the options to councillors, said letting people pick their own transport was more in line with the rest of adult social care service at the council, and would bring it into line with children's services.

It would also help foster independence rather than reliance on the council, he added.

At the meeting Andrew Mortimer, a carer for his stepson, had urged the councillors against the "personal budgets" approach". He said the reports prepared for the meeting didn't take into account the impact on carers, or how the changes would badly serve people like his stepson, whose disability means he does not manage change well, by taking away choice to stick to the status quo.

Another option - of contracting an outside body to provide transport - would better support carers, give service users more choice, avoid sacking staff by transferring them to the new body, and save the council money in redundancy costs, Mr Mortimer said.

Cllr Carol Runciman, the executive member for care, also told the meeting she had a number of concerns about how carers would be hit, and that some people could suffer financially.

She asked for a special forum to be set up so service users and carers can be involved in transitional plans, and so their views can be heard and the systembe adapted over the next three years.

Mr Gray and the council's director of adult social care Martin Farran said many carers and family members would have to take on more work to arrange transport, but work through York Carers Centre and other organisations would help mitigate this.

Similarly, people who get mobility allowance would be expected to use that to pay for their transport, which will cause problems for those already using the money for other things, but they will work with York CAB to help anyone facing money troubles.