Govan Law Centre (GLC) has accepted instructions and raised proceedings earlier this week for judicial review in the Court of Session on behalf of a client of the Neighbourhood Networks East Renfrewshire service (NNER).
In June 2024, East Renfrewshire Council (ERC) and the East Renfrewshire Integrated Joint Board (ERIJB) decided to decommission and end the vital services provided by the NNER to adults and young persons with learning disabilities and/or autism. NNER services are provided by the Scottish charity Neighbourhood Networks. Proceedings are against both ERC and ERIJB.
Decommissioning NNER will have a significant adverse impact on service users who rely on the service for care, support and being able to live independently in their community. The majority of service referrals came via East Renfrewshire Council’s social work department and past service users have been left without any service or support.
Legal challenges are focused on the failure of both respondents to properly exercise duties under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the decommissioning of NNER; the failure to carry out an Equality Impact Assessment (“EQIA”) which satisfied the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012, SSI 2012/162 and the failure to consult those affected at Scots common law.
The instructing solicitor is Rachel Moon, Partner at GLC; GLC’s Solicitor Advocate Mike Dailly acts for the petitioner and Laura McDonagh, Partner at Drummond Miller LLP acts as Edinburgh agents. The petition will require to satisfy the legal test for permission to proceed in terms of the 1988 Court of Session Act
