Assurances Sought Over Sale Of Dunboyne Building

4.23.20pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 22nd Jun 2007

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Torbay Council, Cllr Steve Darling, has written to the Conservative Elected Mayor Nick Bye seeking assurances over the sale of the building which used to house the Dunboyne Care Home.

In September 2006 the Council (which is responsible for budgetary matters) passed a Liberal Democrat sponsored motion which said that the money from any sale of the building should go back to the Adult Care Trust to be spent on services.

Inspectors from the Audit Commission on their most recent inspection of Torbay Council were also informed that money from the sale of the building would go to the Adult Care Trust to provide services to people with dementia.

However, a report went to the meeting of the Council's Cabinet on June 15th stating that no decision has been made and that options for spending the money will be presented to a future cabinet meeting.

Councillor Steve Darling said: "I am horrified that the Mayor is once again putting services to the most vulnerable in Torbay under threat by withdrawing this investment. I have written to the Conservative elected Mayor to seek clarification on this issue. The Council, which is responsible for budgetary matters, has already resolved that the money from the sale of the former Dunboyne care home should be given to the Adult Care Trust for them to spend on services to the most vulnerable people in Torbay. Indeed Government Inspectors have been told that this will happen.

"Now there is a report going to the Elected Mayor and his Conservative Cabinet saying that no decisions have yet been made with regard to the money, and that options on how to spend it will be given to a future cabinet meeting.

"The right course of action would be for the money to go to the Adult care Trust as has already been agreed. I cannot imagine that government inspectors would be very impressed if they were told one thing by the Conservative administration, only for them to do exactly the opposite.

"I look forward to receiving the elected Mayor's assurances on the matter."