Cost-cutting proposals for services halted by deadlock

Controversial cost-cutting proposals that would impact some of Renfrewshire’s most vulnerable people fell through at a D-Day vote yesterday.

- EMYLIE HOWIE

Voting members of the integration joint board (IJB)-the body that oversees Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) - were deadlocked on a string of measures aimed at filling a budget black hole.

It means a stay of execution for campaigners who have fought long and hard to protect services which will continue to be delivered.

However, they have been advised that plans to save cash and address the financial deficit could be brought to the table in future.

All four councillors on the board supported an SNP amendment to reject all but one of the proposals while the quartet of health board members supported implementing most of the cuts outlined.

The proposals were, therefore, neither approved or rejected and the chair, health board representative Margaret Kerr, decided against organising a special meeting to secure a consensus.