Following the announcement of a funding freeze for the voluntary sector, the head of Angus Mental Health Association has attacked the council and its social work director, Dr Robert Peat.
Ron Scrimgeour, a former Angus councillor and now chairman of Angus Mental Health Association and treasurer of Age Concern Angus stated, “It is an outrage and an insult to the voluntary sector to have its funding frozen by Angus Council. He claimed the council has chosen “soft targets which would impact on “the elderly, the infirm and the vulnerable in our local communities. “The services delivered by the third sector are a vital lifeline to many,” he said.Mr Scrimgeour then turned his attack on to the director of social work, “It is an affront to the staff and volunteers in the third sector to be lectured by a director of social work who earns over £100,000 per year, has guaranteed lifetime employment and an iron-clad |pension pot.”Many volunteers are actually subsidising the services they provide for Angus Council out of their own pocket,” he said.While defending the funding freeze |Dr Peat said last week, “They have been in a privileged position . . . they wanted to be treated as equal partners, they have to take the rough with the smooth.” These remarks incensed Mr Scrimgeour who said, “Dr Peat owes an apology to each and every member of the third sector and their clients for those insensitive and tactless remarks.”The head of the AMHA claimed to have a high regard for the director of social work, but stated, “On this occasion he has strayed from his role as head of the strategic and operational side of social work and entered the political arena.”Mr Scrimgeour then went on to claim that the voluntary sector is used by local authorities to deliver essential and statutory services because councils “do not have the expertise to do it themselves.” He concluded by saying, “The impact of the payments freeze will be wide ranging and immediate.”It will affect the training volunteers receive, the meagre expenses they are paid and the professional backup and support they receive from paid staff.”It will impact on the quality and the amount of service the volunteers are able to give the most fragile and |vulnerable in our society.”The biggest impact will be felt in the rural communities with transport difficulties and the added burdens of isolation and remoteness.”Councillor Alison Andrews, the council’s convener of social work and health, said, “The partnerships Angus Council has with voluntary groups and organisations are invaluable in helping the council deliver a range of essential social work and health services. “However, as is the case with every other local authority, we are in a period of financial stringency and have not been able to increase the budget for these service level agreements. “As a former councillor Mr Scrimgeour is aware that these decisions are taken by the elected members of a local authority, not individual officers.”The decision taken on Thursday does not detract from the value which we place on the people who help us to provide these services. We will closely monitor with the voluntary organisations any impact this decision may have on the services.”