Notts: Charity accuses County Council of targeting the weak

Framework says it is ‘shocked and dismayed’ by proposals which could see them lose up to £3.5 million of funding per year.

Chief executive Andrew Redfern said: “Once again the council seems to be targeting its cuts on those who can least afford to bear them.”

“We work with some of the most vulnerable people in the community, cases that statutory services reject because their needs are too complex.”

“Clearly the council has a serious problem to solve. But the amount of money involved here is a tiny proportion, less than one per cent, of its remaining budget.”

“Disproportionate cuts have already been applied to services for homeless and vulnerable people, and the time has come to look elsewhere.

“The implication of the proposals is that the most excluded people are the lowest priority, and we do not accept that.”

“We will now take some time to fully assess the impact of these proposals on rough sleepers and others in emergency housing need, if the cuts go ahead.”

“It will leave them with nowhere to go. This is unacceptable and so is the withdrawal of support from people with alcohol, drug and mental health problems.”

“I will seek an urgent meeting with the council leader to make him fully aware of the impact that these cuts would have on thousands of very needy people, remind him of the resources that central Government has made available to support these people, and ask him to think again.”