Labour votes to close Siegen

Morley Borough Independent Councillors made a final bid to prevent the closure of Siegen Manor at a Leeds City Council meeting last Wednesday. The proposal, contained within a white paper resolution, pledged the Council to postpone closure for a further 2 years.

This final option to prevent the closure of Siegen Manor failed. We called on the Council to suspend the closure of all three homes on the closure list until there are guarantees of suitable accommodation of a better quality within the local area and despite the support of Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green Party Councillors the ruling Labour Administration rejected our call.

Leeds City Councils Executive Board voted to close Siegen Manor at its September meeting. The decision was referred back for further consideration following a Scrutiny Board Inquiry but the Executive Board reconfirmed the closure decision at its October Meeting.

We think closure is the wrong decision. Leeds City Council is gaining an additional £5 million a year – every year – via the Social Care Levy on Council Tax bills. It also agreed a £4million grant to Yorkshire Cricket Club towards guaranteeing test cricket in Leeds. This money should be used to postpone any final closure decision while better options are examined. The residents in Siegen Manor are some of the most vulnerable in our community and they deserve high quality care and accommodation. There is no guarantee this is what they will get if - as proposed - they are moved into the private sector.