Tories Vote Down West Berks Lib Dem Motions to Save Charles Clore Cancer Unit

6.37.48pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 5th Oct 2005

A motion proposed by Liberal Democrats to save the Charles Clore Macmillan Cancer Unit was voted down today by the Conservatives on West Berkshire Council's Health Scrutiny Panel by using the chairman's casting vote. The Conservatives also voted down a Lib Dem motion to refer the lack of consultation by the PCT on the closure to the Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt MP.

West Berkshire Liberal Democrat Councillors will en masse sign the petition to save Charles Clore at their group meeting this Thursday night.

The opportunity for the Council's new Health Scrutiny powers to contest the proposed closure was found in August by Cllr Alexander Payton (Lib Dem, Thatcham Central). Cllr Payton uncovered powers of the Health Panel to refer the closure to the Secretary of State Patricia Hewitt. Following Cllr Payton's research a well attended public meeting was held last Friday to discuss the proposed closure of the unit.

Cllr Jeff Brooks, Leader of the opposition, who attended today's meeting, said "Instead of representing local peoples' views the Conservatives have surrendered. They refused to take the actions proposed by Lib Dems to try to save the unit. This Council exists to stand up for the views of local residents, yet without Alex Payton's research West Berkshire Council would never have even had these meetings. The Conservatives could have used this opportunity to save the unit, they have completely missed it."

Cllr Dr Sue Farrant (Lib Dem, Northcroft), a former chair of the Health Scrutiny Panel, said "Although the hospital has tried very hard to accommodate the needs of the Unit's users the Charles Clore Unit is a unique facility. Its special environment cannot be reproduced within a hospital. We believe that rather than close it, it should be used more effectively as an important local resource."

Cllr Alexander Payton, Vice Chair of the Panel, added "Residents of Newbury worked hard to raise money for this local facility. In agreeing to back the sale of the site the Conservatives have given away locally raised money to the NHS black hole when they could have backed us and stood up for local people. Under NHS rules if that site is sold that money will never be seen again by the people of West Berkshire."

The Liberal Democrat motion Requesting Government Intervention was: "We propose that there is a substantial variation in service and that the panel should write to the Secretary of State to request full consultation of the decision." Votes cast 2 FOR (Alexander Payton, Sue Farrant) - 2 AGAINST (Sheila Ellison & Tony Linden), motion voted down on Conservative Chairman's casting vote.

The Liberal Democrat motion to save, strengthen and improve Charles Clore was: "We propose that in view of the evidence we have heard from service users and volunteers the Charles Clore Macmillan Day Unit should remain open on its present site and that a review be initiated immediately with a view to maximising the benefit of this important resource." Votes cast 2 FOR (Alexander Payton, Sue Farrant) - 2 AGAINST (Sheila Ellison & Tony Linden), motion voted down on Conservative Chairman's casting vote.