[ssf] FW: Sheff Council care costs rise 165% - protest and meeting

[Mr Jase Malgod]

Emergency meetings of disabled people are already taking place to discuss a 
response to the proposals by Sheffield City Council to increase service 
charges by over 150%. See the Sheffield Star article:
http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=13515 
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A lobby of Sheffield City Council's Cabinet where decisions will be made 
about these proposals has been organized for 1pm next Wednesday the 22nd 
February. We will also be carrying out leafleting and work with the press in 
the lead up to the Cabinet meeting. People are being asked to send 
individual letters to the Sheffield Star and/or telephone radio shows where 
phone-in discussions occur, in order to highlight this issue and promote the 
lobby. 

People can also write to their local councillors and/or to Councillor Mick 
Rooney, the Labour group spokesperson for adult services. A planning meeting 
to prepare materials for the lobby and discuss the next steps in the 
campaign will start at 4pm next Monday the 20th February. It will be held at 
the offices of Inclusive Living Sheffield, The Ace Centre, 116 the Wicker. 
If anyone is interested in being involved with this work or wants more 
details please contact ILS on 0114 275 3014 or Linda/Mike on 0114 225 8676. 

Charging disabled and elderly people for getting out of bed in the morning, 
getting dressed, going to the toilet, living in a clean environment and 
getting meals cooked is wrong and immoral. The Chief Executive of Sheffield 
City Council received a huge salary increase last year, whilst disabled 
people are 7 times more likely to be unemployed and living on benefits. 
Service users in Sheffield are expected to pay for such salary increases and 
so the Council can keep down this year's increase in Council Tax. 

Disabled people are also being attacked by this Government as it tries to 
bully people off Incapacity Benefit and into work. 

How can disabled people hold down a job when they cannot afford to pay for 
the services they need to get up and out of bed in the morning? How can 
people whose benefits are being cut pay these charges? 

Now is the time to make a stand and say we will not pay twice for council 
services. We already pay council tax. Other people are not expected to pay 
twice to have their bins emptied, their roads and sewers maintained, to 
borrow books from libraries, etc. so why should disabled people be charged 
for going to the toilet. 

Please get involved in saying no and making a stand against Sheffield City 
Council's latest attack on disabled people. Let us show them that we are 
strong, we do matter and we will not allow them to treat us like second 
class citizens any longer. 

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