Norfolk councillor urged to quit following disability discrimination ruling

A senior Norfolk county councillor has been urged to resign after the authority was found to have discriminated against disabled people.

Reforms to the authority’s care charge structure were approved at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, after a claim against the council was upheld in the High Court last month.

Bill Borrett, the council’s cabinet member for adult social care, apologised after the ruling, claiming the discrimination found had been “inadvertent.”

But opposition members and campaigners have demanded his resigniation, claiming the case showed he was unfit to hold the role and stand up for care users.

However, council leader Andrew Proctor defended him during questions at the meeting.

“In a written response to one question, he said: “The Council (and therefore the Cabinet Member), did not intend to discriminate.

“Its intention – which the judgement acknowledges – was to amend its charging policy in line with the National Guidance, and to bring it into line with other councils.

“Due to the acknowledged unintentional nature of the breach I do not consider this a matter for resignation.”

The authority has also insisted that service users who lost out as a result of its policies will be reimbursed.

In her question to the meeting, Karen McKerrow, speaking on behalf of the National Autistic Society, said: “Our adult children are so severely disabled with such complex needs they are never likely to be able to work and need their money back as a matter of urgency.”