Speaking at a full council meeting,, external Labour group leader Sally Keeble asked Mark Arnull what thought the council had given to the care and employment consequences of a potential closure of the whole St Andrew’s service, and whether it could do anything to help.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, she said there were “fears for St Andrew’s as a whole”.
“Some people say it is ‘too big to fail’, but it is very severely challenged and there are real concerns for people about their long-term employment and also, of course, about the care services,” said Keeble.
“It would be really helpful if you would give a verbal assurance, as well as give the information in writing, as to what the council is doing.”
In response, Arnull said: “We’ve asked our colleagues in council departments to look at options in which we can continue to support St Andrew’s and, if possible, if not directly [then] indirectly, and I’m happy to write back to you what that looks like.
“St Andrew’s is a private establishment, as we know, and I will need to take advice.”