A NUMBER of disability day service centres are facing closure as councillors discuss their future.

The two East Cleveland centres in the spotlight are the Zetland Day Centre, in Marske, and at Guisborough Rugby Club. Two others under threat are based at Heatherfields, in Eston, and the Settlement at Ormesby.

If the programme is agreed, the four targeted centres will close their doors on July 1.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council’s cabinet will consider the recommendations following a threemonth consultation with users, their parents, relatives and carers, staff and other key stakeholders.

Day services are currently delivered from eight bases around the borough – North Skelton, Brotton, two in Redcar, Eston, Ormesby, Marske and Guisborough.

Coun Helen McLuckie, the cabinet member for health and social wellbeing, said: “While we recognise that some people will have been anxious and concerned about the proposals during the consultation, we have listened to what people have told us and we believe the recommendations will offer many people a more local service.

“Our staff will support people who are moving base to ensure that their transition is as smooth as possible.”

On Tuesday, the cabinet will hear that, as a result of the council’s success in supporting people with a learning disability into paid and voluntary work, and through the promotion of direct payments with people choosing to access universal services like libraries, leisure centres, adult education classes and drama groups, the number of people attending traditional building-based day services has fallen.

Following the closure of large bases at Grangetown and Skelton, the number of people choosing to attend day services has fallen from 204 to 129, with an average daily attendance of 99 across the eight satellite bases, most of which are not council buildings. No new referrals have been made to the service in 2008-9.

The recommendations the cabinet will consider are that it is no longer viable to sustain all eight bases, and that the services delivered from the rugby club at Guisborough and the Zetland base at Marske should transfer to a number of other bases, including North Skelton, High Hills at Brotton, and the two bases in Redcar.

Coun McLuckie added: “It was really pleasing to hear so many positive comments from so many people about the quality of care that the council provides, which won’t be compromised by the proposed changes to the bases.

“For many people, the change in base means they will be receiving a service closer to their home.”

The cabinet will also hear that the small number of staff affected by the changes will be offered redeployment to vacant posts in the council’s learning disability services.

Coun McLuckie added: “In arriving at the recommendations, we have taken a number of factors into account, including the physical environment and suitability of the buildings, how well they are integrated with the community, and their proximity to local services and transport routes.”

If the cabinet agrees to the recommendations, changes to the services will be implemented from July 1.