About 100 demonstrators, including Dame Joan Bakewell, took part in a demonstration against council cuts to the number of sheltered housing wardens in Parliament Square in Westminster on Wednesday 22nd July. A delegation then presented a letter of protest to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The campaigners claim the Government's decision to give councils discretion in how they how they spend central government allocated supporting people funding has led to cuts in local warden services. The replacement of on-site wardens with floating wardens was having a negative impact on residents and leading to more money being spent on health and social services.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Communities and Local Government commented: "Councils have benefited from £1.6 billion this year alone through the Supporting People programme to help vulnerable people to live independently, including older people.

"This money is available to use as councils see fit to meet local needs and priorities and a recent report showed that this flexibility leads to improved services for vulnerable groups and better value for money.

"Removing the ring fence from Supporting People builds on the flexibility we have already given 127 councils to provide these services and move Supporting People funding into wider welfare provision.

"Local authorities will continue to be assessed on their housing support performance through the Comprehensive Area Assessment.

"Any change to the service provided, including any move away from residential wardens and towards a system of floating support, is a decision for the individual council concerned.

"However, we have made clear that any changes should only be implemented after meaningful consultation with residents."

Source 24dash.com