'Decision is just really unsettling... there are not any celebrations'

Campaigners have conceded an "unsettling atmosphere" remains after controversial costcutting proposals that would have impacted some of Renfrewshire's most vulnerable people fell on Friday.

- JACK THOMSON, LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER

Carers are not prepared to celebrate the outcome of the integration joint board (IJB) - the body that oversees Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) - after a majority could not be secured.

Voting members were ultimately deadlocked on measures suggested to help claw back a multi-million-pound budget black hole facing the HSCP.

Eight recommendations were, therefore, neither approved or rejected but substantial savings are still required to balance the books and prevent it entering financial recovery.

It is this backdrop that has left those who fought for services - both this year and last when a proposed merger of Mirin Day Opportunities in Paisley and Milldale Day Opportunities in Linwood was refused - feeling "quite flat".

Jennifer Lindsay, who has family members who attend the Disability Resource Centre (DRC), also in Paisley, and Milldale, told the Express: "It's just really quite unsettling.

"There aren't really any celebrations around it because it was a 4-4 vote and we're very aware that obviously last year with Milldale we fought and we won but it didn't take long for proposals to come back.