Lib Dems' Eleventh Hour Bid to save Warden Service sunk by Chairman's casting vote

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 18th Jun 2009

The Liberal Democrats mounted a last minute challenge to Barnet Council's proposals to scrap the Sheltered Housing Warden Service

Barnet Liberal Democrats' last ditch effort to save the Sheltered Housing Service floundered this evening (18 June) on the Chairman of the Business Management Overview and Scrutiny sub Committee's casting vote. Cllr Jack Cohen, leader of Barnet Liberal Democrats, had called in the cabinet decision to scrap the Sheltered Housing Warden Service. Cllr Cohen, who had forced Conservative Cabinet Member Richard Cornelius to justify the proposed cuts, said he was bitterly disappointed with the outcome.

An angry Cllr Cohen said "Tonight has been a bad day for democracy in Barnet and bad news for our residents in sheltered housing". In response to questioning, Cllr Cornelius, the Cabinet Member responsible for the service, admitted that neither he nor his Cabinet colleagues had any dialogue or any meetings with residents in sheltered housing during the consultation process. Asked why, Cllr Cornelius said "it would have been too upsetting". Cllr Jack Cohen expressed disbelief: "It is quite clear they were frightened, scared stiff off facing up to their responsibilities, shame on all of them I say."

In a further twist when the vote was taken on Cllr Cohen's motion to refer the decision back to cabinet and therefore in effect block the Warden cuts, the committee split four all. The Conservative Chairman Cllr Prentice then used her casting vote to defeat Cllr Cohen's motion, effectively signing , sealing and delivering the death blow to the Sheltered Housing warden Scheme. Cllr Cohen said "this shows the Tories in their true colours. Not one of them asked any questions, and apart from one Conservative, who abstained, all of them voted to confirm the cuts. It's no use them crying crocodile tears later on. Tonight they had the chance to stand up and be counted and they blew it"

Earlier Councillor Jack Cohen, the Leader of Barnet's Liberal Democrats, had put the breaks on the Council's decision to scrap the Sheltered Housing Warden Service. This meant the Council could not go ahead with their plans until the Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee had the opportunity to scrutinise the proposals.

Councillor Cohen has described the consultation process and the Cabinet Decision an "absolute sham". Councillor Cohen believes the ruling Conservative Group has run roughshod over some of the most vulnerable people in our Borough. Cllr Cohen describes the Cabinet Meeting which made the decision as "a put up job".