Councils that are attempting to avoid more general cost reductions by reducing services to the elderly and disabled have been dealt a blow by today's ruling in the High Court against Birmingham City Council. The Court ruled that councils must take account of peoples' disabilities, even where that involves treating disabled persons more favourably than others in order to comply with anti-discrimination legislation.
What gets me is why it is that councils should try to save money by reducing services to the elderly and disabled. Why don't they first look at services to the very abled, those more than able to look after themselves ? Gay and lesbian centres, youth centres, services for young mothers etc., etc. Why can't these disparate groups look out for themselves, if necessary, with support from voluntary and/or charitable organistions ?
Councils need to sort out what they must do from what they'd, ideologically, like to do, long before they start cutting truly essential services.
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