The Orangery '˜will open' despite cuts

East Sussex County Council cabinet agreed to proposals to save nearly £2million by cutting the Supporting People grant which helps people in sheltered housing.

The cuts are yet to be agreed by the full council but it was feared The Orangery would struggle with the loss in local authority funding.

But the providers AmicusHorizon moved to ensure people the scheme will open as planned but the care provided would have to be reconsidered.

“Our new extra care scheme, The Orangery in Sidley, will open as planned in the spring with an on-site care team and housing management staff,” a spokesman said.

“The Supporting People cut will mean we’ll have to reconsider with residents exactly what our support offer will be.

“However, we’re confident we’ll be providing a high quality service to everyone in The Orangery.

“Residents will certainly have all the care and support they need to live independently a great quality of life in a beautifully designed, state-of-the-art scheme.”

The county council is looking to save £40million from its adult social care budget for 2016/17. Some of the savings look set to come from the Supporting People fund after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, January 26.

All the funding for the on-site support service at sheltered housing schemes, like The Orangery, could be cut – a saving of more than £1.2million.

And £103,000 is saved by cutting the on-site support manager for extra care projects which would specifically effect the unopened accommodation.

Bexhill and Battle Labour Party women’s officer Judith Meredith wrote to the Observer saying cutting funding before a scheme is open shows ‘an appalling taste’.

“I understand that such a centre seeks to lower the cost of care for the elderly and disabled, by centring it in one workable environment,” she said.

“It also aims to empower its residents into independence.

“So cutting the funding will only make for greater costs overall.”

Rother District Council Labour candidate for Bexhill Central Paul Courtel was also concerned with the proposed cuts to The Orangery, especially as a lot of public money has gone into it.

“Whilst residents will continue to benefit from the floating support service, not based onsite, the preventative care element enabling potential crises in health or welfare to be addressed early, is likely to decrease,” he said.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.bexhillobserver.net/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bexhillobserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @BexhillObs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Bexhill Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.