An Otley and Yeadon councillor is calling for the needs of people with learning disabilities and their carers to be at the heart of a planned shake-up of services.

Leeds City council is proposing to create a social enterprise – a staff-led public service mutual organisation – for its employees who are currently responsible for delivering care for those with learning disabilities.

Councillor Sandy Lay (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon), however, says it is vital the reorganisation is about more than cutting costs.

Coun Lay (pictured above), whose wife is a learning disability nurse and lecturer, said: “Broadly speaking I am in favour of social enterprises because good ones put their users first with staff working around users’ needs, and not the other way round.

“This one briefly talks about ‘continued quality’ and then reels off a list of organisational outcomes. This proposal should not be about cost-saving and staff but about users and how we can deliver better and more consistent care and quality.

“Accordingly, I hope that the Council will ensure the voices of users and their carers are at the centre of any decisions, and if they say this is not right for them the Council will reconsider.”