There will be a mass protest outside County Hall, Penrhyn Road, Kingston KT1 2DN on Tuesday 24 February.

This is the day of the Cabinet meeting which was to decide the fate of the six Surrey Care Homes threatened with closure. Due to the huge public outcry the consultation deadline has been extended till 31 January and the decision postponed to a Cabinet meeting later in the year. We still intend to present our petition at the 24 February meeting.

The lobby will start at 12.30pm. The Cabinet meeting starts at 2pm. We are looking at providing transport from each home where there is a demand.

Flyers/posters advertising the lobby are available, as are campaign stickers. Just contact us for a supply.

Consultation Extended
Message from Dave Sargeant, Strategic Director:

"I have agreed with Cabinet Member, Mel Few to extend the formal consultation period until 31st January 2015. The Surrey County Council Cabinet item planned for February 2015 will be rearranged to a later date to allow for the analysis and consideration of the consultation process."

Clearly the campaign is having an effect. The consultation was originally due to end on 12th of December!

You can still have your say in the formal consultation here: www.surreysays.co.uk/asc-commissioning/future-of-surrey-county-council-in-house-homes

A copy of the October 2014 cabinet report outlining the reasons for the
consultation is available at:
www.surreycc.gov.uk/futureofolderpeopleshomes

We have had two good public meetings, organised by SOSIS - one in Redhill and one in Farnham. The council's own consultation events have been swamped with people wanting to have their say. The online petition stands at over 1,200 and more filled copies of the paper petition are arriving every day. Many people are printing copies of the petition and standing on their high streets for a couple of hours at a time to catch christmas shoppers. 

The online petition can be still signed here:  http://petitions.surreycc.gov.uk/SaveCareHomes/

Please forward this to your friends and family. 

You can also join the Facebook Group which has been set up for friends, family and campaigners for all six care homes: https://www.facebook.com/groups/806584889380498/

Mass protest in February

We will still go ahead with a mass lobby and protest outside County Hall in Kingston on 24th February at 12.30pm even though the decision has been postponed. This will be a good chance to show the council the strength of opposition to the closures and is when we will present the final petition. We are looking at providing transport from some or all of the homes but we need to know who will come so we know what to book. The flyer/poster for the lobby is available now. Contact us for a supply.

Keep campaigning, writing to your Councillors and MPs. There are simple template letters on this UNISON website which will take seconds to send. http://www.unisonsoutheast.org.uk/surreycarehomes?recruiter_id=1827

Have a good Christmas break and come back fighting to save our care homes...

NEWSFLASH

Message from Dave Sargeant just come out to staff in Adult Social Care:

Strategic Director's Message

"I have agreed with Cabinet Member, Mel Few to extend the formal consultation period until 31st January 2015. The Surrey County Council Cabinet item planned for February 2015 will be rearranged to a later date to allow for the analysis and consideration of the consultation process."

Hopefully this means the campaign is having some effect. The lobby of Cabinet will still take place on 24 Feb.

There will be a special brief open meeting of the SOSIS steering committee on Weds 10 Dec at 4pm at County Hall in Kingston KT12DN. Please let us know if you are coming.

This meeting will discuss the Care Homes Campaign latest information and agree next steps and plans for early next year.