A number of Parish Councillors attended the meeting of the Isle of Wight cabinet on 8th November.
Freshwater Parish Council was very disappointed with the decision of the meeting to close the Local Area Co-ordination service and to stop all referrals for the date of the meeting. The Parish Council having seen the outcomes from the Local Area Co-Ordinators’ work are very disturbed and worried about what this may mean for members of the community.
In the Isle of Wight Council’s own Health and Wellbeing Strategy for the Isle of Wight 2018 to 2021 from Public Health it is stated “…work through our teams of Local Area Co-Ordinators to ensure that individuals who have physical or learning disabilities and mental health needs have the opportunity to be in control of their lives and are able to contribute to and benefit from work opportunities suitable for their abilities and increased prosperity”. It would appear that the decision of the cabinet will remove the local area co-ordinators from this role from 31st March 2019.
In the same document Councillor Dave Stewart chair of the Isle of Wight Health and Wellbeing Board and Leader of the Isle of Wight Council states “our health and wellbeing is fundamental to how we live and everyone has a role in improving it for ourselves and the people around us.”
Freshwater Parish Council will commit to meet with members of the community to seek their views and ideas on how we go forward from the disappointing outcome from the cabinet meeting.
Please send your comments and ideas to the Clerk at clerk@freshwater-parish.org.uk telephone 01983 752000 or write to us at Memorial Hall Freshwater PO40 9UU.
