CARERS who help loved ones with drug and alcohol problems have accused the council of breaking the law over funding cuts.
Families have reported the authority to the Local Government Ombudsman after it announced it was scrapping an annual £32,000 grant to the The One North East London service (1NE).
The organisation has received grants for its relatives service, which supports addicts’ carers through counselling and group therapy, since 2005.
In November last year the authority put out to tender a new contract to provide funding for carers groups, but this did not include any specialist support for drug and alcohol cases - it is claimed.
1NE says the council then failed to respond to questions from service users and failed to consult them about the impact of the funding cut.
Cluny MacPherson, the honorary secretary of 1NE, has submitted the complaint on behalf of service users as they wish to remain anonymous to protect their relatives.
He said: “Frequently relatives are the only real source of support that addicts have, and it isn't easy.
“It's very important that they are given help.
"The only attempt at consultation has been the vague, generalised 'intentions' contained within the final consultation draft of the Carers Strategy document.
“Throughout all of this process, the council has never consulted users of the Relatives Service on the future of their service or on the possible withdrawal of this service.
“It is considered that this failure to consult renders the actions of the council in this instance is unlawful.”
Mr MacPherson said 1NE was now desperately trying to find alternative sources of funding in order to continue the service.
A spokesman for Waltham Forest Council said the authority could not comment because the Ombudsman's investigation is currently on-going.
1NE, which is based in The Broadway, Woodford Green, provides a variety of additional alcohol and drug related services in both Waltham Forest and Redbridge, but these are funded through other organisations and authorities.
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