Latest challenge to Northants cuts fails

Service users have failed in their latest court battle to halt Northamptonshire Council’s cuts to adult services.

The Court of Appeal last week rejected an application to reinstate an interim injunction protecting services while an application for judicial review was considered.

The injunction, which was put in place on 28 September after a challenge from service users, was lifted on 4 October after representations from the council.

Last month, the council announced plans to tighten eligibility criteria and close two respite centres for people with learning difficulties .

This prompted 40 service users to apply for the judicial review. A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Council said: “We have ensured that the High Court has everything it needs to make an informed decision about the application for judicial review and are currently awaiting information on how this will proceed.”

The High Court rejected a previous judicial review application over the council’s plans lodged in March.

No decision on the current application had been made as Community Care went to press.