County Council in court - Tories were warned

10.59.16am GMT Fri 24th Feb 2006

'Tory councillors on Northamptonshire County Council were repeatedly warned that they would face legal action if they continued with their cuts in services to disabled people' claims Richard Church, Leader of the Lib Dem group.

'The Tories have only themselves to blame for the crisis they now find themselves in.' County officials received repeated letters setting out what was going to happen and at the cabinet meeting on 13th February protestors said "see you in court". They ignored all the warnings and went ahead with savage and unnecessary cuts in services to highly vulnerable people, and now find themselves covered in embarrassment as they are unable to set a legal budget.'

'It is not too late for them to think again. They should enter into discussion now with the objectors to restore the cuts and have the injunctions removed. The Lib Dem group would happily assist in an emergency council meeting to set a legal budget which retained Quarry House, Ashgrove and Nicholls House and which stopped the £4 million cuts in eligibility criteria, and it is not too late to do that.

For the sake of the reputation of Northamptonshire County Council its time for the Tories to enter in talks with all parties and the protestors to enable them to set a fair and legal budget.'