The Petition of residents of Kelsall, Malpas, Tattenhall, Tarporley and Audlem and their neighbouring districts,
Declares that the Petitioners, who include the elderly and vulnerable in the Eddisbury constituency, together with their carers, families and local supporters, support the campaign by the hon. Member for Eddisbury to secure the future of the day care centres in the communities of Kelsall, Malpas, Tattenhall, Tarporley and Audlem.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to encourage Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire East Council as part-funders today and prospectively to seek one or more alternative bodies to take over the running of these vital day care centres in order to secure their long term future before Age Concern Cheshire abandon their current responsibilities.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mr Stephen O'Brien, Official Report, 9 December 2010; Vol. 520, c. 5P .]
[P000872]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Health:
Day care is not a regulated service. Councils are free to take their own decisions on its provision. It is for individual local councils to ensure, through their planning and commissioning of services, that there is sufficient capacity to meet local need. How the councils react to the possible closure of these day centres is therefore a matter for them to determine.