With news that Staffordshire County Council has been summonsed to court
again for possibly breaching their own terms and conditions given in
evidence before the Court in London last week regarding the closure of
care homes in Staffordshire, Michael Fabricant says: "This matter would
be a farce if it weren’t so serious for so many thousands of care home
users, carers, and residents of Staffordshire. Whether it be this
matter or the question of school catchment areas, a pattern is emerging
of deceit and double dealing. Labour controlled Staffordshire County
Council and its officials have to learn that honesty is the best policy
and saying one thing then doing another is simply not an option.

"It is now likely that I shall be referring a number of matters to the
Local Government Ombudsman for independent investigation into the
workings and ethos of Staffordshire County Council. I have been very
disappointed in the way a number of recent decisions – including the
manner in which County Council employees were informed of salary cuts –
have been executed. Something is seriously wrong at County Hall in
Stafford and this must be stopped."

Following representations and further evidence provided by Claimants’
Solicitor Ms Yvonne Hossack that Staffordshire County Council appeared
to have not complied with their own terms and conditions freely offered
in the matter of Thomas versus Staffordshire County Council, a duty
Judge has ordered that the Authority return to Court for a further
hearing and possible injunction on Monday April the 2nd. The County
claimed in Court last week that no final decision had been made to close
care homes so no injunction could be issued. It is now claimed that the
County then issued a statement, following the Court hearing, that the
closures could now go ahead. This is one of the bases of the further
hearing on April 2nd.