Local authority disinvestment

"The Hardest Hit" campaign is organising a march, lobby and rally of Parliament to take place on 11 May 2011.

Over 40 organisations and groups of disabled people are working together led by the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC), the UK Disabled People’s Council (UKDPC) and Disability Charities Consortium (DCC).

The day will be an opportunity for people to come together to voice their concern about the impact of Government cuts on disabled people, which are threatening benefits and services for disabled people.

A BASE survey has found evidence of widespread fears that local authority funding for the sector will be drastically cut. The survey found that 40% of respondents were expecting cuts of over 30% in their local authority funding. While many of these local decisions remain unconfirmed, we are hearing of a number of services that have either been scrapped or told to expect cuts of over 50% in their funding.

The Valuing People Now team has developed resources to promote best practice and support local and regional delivery so that more people with learning disabilities get homes and jobs and lead fulfilled lives.

Central Bedfordshire Council has announced that LuDun Industries is to close. Set up in 1956, LuDun Industries currently employs 24 people and is managed by Central Bedfordshire on behalf of a group of Trustees.

It exclusively employs people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities and provides a range of services including picture framing, sanding, spraying and light assembly and packing. In a statement, Central Bedfordshire Council said that,

Local Government Improvement & Development has produced a handy guide for lead members of adults' services.

The Government has announced the results of its comprehensive spending review (CSR) in a statement to parliament.

Following publication of the Comprehensive Spending Review on 20 October, BASE is keen to get an idea of the scale of potential disinvestment in supported employment services.

The Department of Health has issued a circular to local authorities in England to give them an update on the progress of Valuing Employment Now and to remind them of the need to maintain investment in supported employment services.