A report on future arrangements for sheltered housing tenants in Angus was deferred after a debate on the competency of a motion which asked for tenancy support officers to be retained.
Angus Council is proposing to replace tenancy support officers (TSOs) with a service run by a voluntary organisation.
New self directed support (SDS) legislation means the council has to give people more choice and control over what support they receive.
However, some sheltered residents are campaigning for TSOs to be retained in the shake-up. A small protest took place outside the council chambers in Forfar when the meeting was under way.
The social work and health committee was asked to approve several recommendations in a joint report from strategic directors Margo Williamson and Alan McKeown.
These included noting that the current model of support by TSOs is not suitable for the SDS environment and the future model of provision be explored in the context of a potential link-up with Voluntary Action Angus.
Arbroath councillor David Fairweather tabled an amendment which asked the committee not to agree these recommendations.
His amendment also requested that the council wrote to the Scottish Government advising them that SDS was flawed for working in Angus and asking for the legislation to be reviewed.
Before Mr Fairweather was able to speak to his amendment or a vote on it was taken, committee convener Glennis Middleton asked the council’s legal team to rule on whether the amendment was legally competent.
Solicitor David Thompson said: “The first amendment is not to agree something that’s to be noted in my opinion the amendment is competent and that the committee can agree not to note something.”
Mrs Middleton replied: “We are noting that the current model of support by TSOs is not suitable for SDS and that is because it is a legislative requirement that personal choice be offered.
“We are not looking at whether that is the case, because that is a fact.”
Mr Thompson replied: “Perhaps Councillor Fairweather is disagreeing whether that is a fact or not… if this is considered a matter of opinion then this is a competent motion.”
Mrs Middleton asked for the meeting to be adjourned for a private discussion with the legal team and other senior council officers.
When she returned she said she would defer the report so it could be brought to a full meeting of Angus Council.
She said: “I think it’s preferable that this can go to full council so it can be debated fully by all members.”
Mr Fairweather said: “I would have wanted this deferred to full council anyway.” He added: “I am very disappointed in how this has been handled.”
Photo by Angus Pictures