A councillor has moved to allay fears over the future of respite care in Leeds.

Otley and Yeadon councillor Ryk Downes sought assurances from Leeds City Council after being contacting by members of the public who were concerned about the future of short breaks for people with learning disabilities.

He said: “I totally agree that such respite care is a valued and effective service which local authorities need to protect at a time of financial upheaval.

“Failure to provide an effective short-breaks service can actually mean greater pressure on local authorities, as the council needs to effectively take over from family carers who are unable to continue to provide full-time care for their loved ones.”

Coun Downes said he asked for an urgent update from and has been assured that there are no plans to reduce the level of support in Leeds. He was also told a review was under way to ensure there was sufficient capacity to meet growing demand. He said he would continue to monitor the situation.