National Deaf Children's Society seeks judicial review of local authority cuts

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National Deaf Children's Society seeks judicial review of local authority cuts - Third Sector

Charity says Stoke-on-Trent City Council has made the largest cut to deaf children's services that it is aware of

The National Deaf Children’s Society is planning to seek a judicial review against Stoke-on-Trent City Council over cuts to the council’s support services for deaf children.

A spokeswoman for NDCS said the local authority had reduced the budget for its integration services directorate, which includes the team that supports deaf children, from £5.004m in 2010/11 to £3.447m in 2011/12 – a reduction of 32 per cent.

The charity claims the council is in breach of the law for failing to assess properly the impact the cuts would have on deaf children, and for introducing changes that risk putting deaf children at a greater disadvantage.

The spokeswoman said the charity had decided to act against Stoke because it had made the largest cut to deaf children’s services that it was aware of.
The charity’s solicitors, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, wrote to the council saying it intended to take legal action if the decision was not reversed.

It gave the council until Friday last week to respond. The council did so, but the spokeswoman for NDCS said the local authority did not address the issues raised in the letter

"The contents of the council’s reply have therefore informed our decision to apply for a judicial review and we have gathered the appropriate witness statements to set this in motion," she said.

NDCS had been campaigning for the council to review its budgets in this area since last November, she added, but it had refused to reconsider its actions so the charity was forced to take legal action.

A spokesman for Stoke-on-Trent city council said: "In light of impending legal action from the National Deaf Children's Society, it would be inappropriate for the city council to comment further at this stage."

 

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Stoke council to review cuts planned for deaf pupil aid

BBC News - Stoke council to review cuts planned for deaf pupil aid

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has said it will review its decision to cut educational support for deaf children.

The Labour-controlled council planned to reduce classroom assistants for deaf children as part of measures to save £187,000 from its special needs budget.

It was ordered by the High Court last month to halt its plans pending a judicial review, requested by the National Deaf Children's Society.

The council said in response to opposition it would review its plan.

Previously the charity described the decision to reduce funding for classroom support as "reckless" and said it would leave only three teachers in charge of 200 children.

'We listened'
Councillor Debra Gratton, cabinet member for children's services, said the decision supported by full council to reduce spending on services for deaf children had been "very difficult" to make.

"But the welfare and education of all the city's children is, and always will be, very important.

"We have listened to the arguments made by the National Deaf Children's Society, and we have listened to parents, children and teachers.

"In light of this, it has been agreed that the original decisions be reviewed, following proper and meaningful consultation, to help us to continue to provide the best level of services for city children.

"The council is also mindful that the legal challenge could prove costly; this is taxpayers' money which could much more productively be spent delivering public services than being eaten up in the law courts."