CAMPAIGNERS for disabled people lobbied City of York Council’s head of social services as he arrived at the Guildhall to consider cuts to services in York.

Coun Jonathon Morley, the executive member for health and adult services, gave his approval to next year’s social care budget on Thursday, which includes controversial cuts including plans to tender out the running of some elderly people’s homes to the private sector.

Ceri Owen, of Leeman Road, a volunteer worker for disabled people, staged a demonstration outside the Guildhall and was also at the meeting to urge Coun Morley to reconsider the budget cuts.

She said: “We call on the council to maintain previously ring-fenced funding, such as the Mental Health Grant and Supporting People Grant, and not to make cuts to services to less visible groups, such as people with mental health needs.”

Before the meeting, Labour group member, Coun Sandy Fraser, said he had concerns over the budget and asked how staff in the council’s care teams would be affected by a sell-off.

“The privatisation plans will hit these staff hard,” he said, and challenged Coun Morley to defend them.

“I will be interested to hear his defence of his performance.”

In rubber stamping next year’s budget, Coun Morley said the choice had to be made at some point and that time had now come.

“We have got to find ways of making the services people want to buy, cheaper than we are able to provide in-house.

“That’s the basis behind getting private organisations in to tender for this work. We wouldn’t expect any effect on quality of care and should be able to get the same quality for less.”

The budget must clear its next hurdle when it comes before the council’s full executive on February 15.