Councillors to consider day centre closure

Brighton & Hove City Council will put plans for the future of Wellington House Day Centre before councillors on Friday, September 4, after months of protests by families and carers. The council says the Brighton service currently supports 21 adults with learning disabilities and that a shift to externally provided day support would save an estimated £336,563 a year. Campaigners say the closure would remove a specialist service used by some of the city’s most vulnerable adults and reduce respite for unpaid carers. Cabinet is scheduled to consider the final report on Thursday, September 17. ### Which meeting is happening this week, and will councillors decide then? The People Overview and Scrutiny Committee is due to meet on Friday, September 4, to examine the Wellington House proposals before Cabinet takes a decision later in the month. The council said no decision will be made at that scrutiny meeting, but councillors may make recommendations to Cabinet. The August 28 council statement said the report on Wellington House would then go to Cabinet on September 17. The scrutiny report says councillors requested a pre-decision review after questions were raised during budget scrutiny in February. ### What is Wellington House and who uses it? Wellington House is a council-run day centre in Brighton for adults with learning disabilities. (brighton-hove.gov.uk) The scrutiny report says 21 individuals attend the service and 21 staff support them. Eight attendees have complex behavioural support needs, according to the report, while others are autistic or have additional needs including communication difficulties, sensory processing differences, mental health needs, epilepsy and sight loss. The council said the centre provides daytime support and described some users as needing a high level of support. Brighton and Hove News reported that campaigners regard the service as a trusted source of respite for families as well as a place offering routine, friendships and specialist staff support. ### Why is the council proposing closure? The February 26 budget-setting meeting approved an indicative £400,000 saving tied to the proposed closure of Wellington House, subject to consultation. (democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk) After consultation, the council said the revised estimated annual saving from recommissioning support, including travel costs, was £336,563. (brighton-hove.gov.uk) The council said Wellington House is operating from an ageing building, has high running costs and is no longer working as efficiently and flexibly as it should because attendance has fallen. Brighton and Hove News reported that the council also wants to sell the building. ### What did the consultation find? The consultation ran for 12 weeks from April 14 to July 7, 2026, the council said. (democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk) The scrutiny report says 23 family and carer surveys and 56 stakeholder surveys were submitted during that process. The council said the feedback showed Wellington House was “highly valued” as a familiar and specialist service. (brighton-hove.gov.uk) Brighton and Hove News reported that the published findings referred to concerns about anxiety, disruption to routines, whether alternative providers could meet individual needs, and the loss of friendships, social connection and respite for families and unpaid carers. (democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk) ### What are campaigners and families saying? More than 3,000 people signed a petition opposing the closure, according to Brighton and Hove News. The same report said campaigners fear any savings could disappear if even a small number of users later needed more expensive full-time care funded by the council. Campaigners have also argued that Wellington House is the last remaining council-run day centre for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs in Brighton and Hove. (brightonandhovenews.org) Earlier protests were held outside Hove Town Hall during the budget debate and again in June as families pressed the council to keep the service open. ### What does the council say would replace the service? (brightonandhovenews.org) The council said there are six other existing providers of day services for adults with learning disabilities in Brighton and Hove, with several new providers due to start in the city soon. If Cabinet decides to close Wellington House, the council said there are enough places to meet the needs of all 21 current service users. (brightonandhovenews.org) The September 4 scrutiny meeting is set to test that case in public before Cabinet members decide on September 17 whether to approve closure and move users into alternative provision. (brighton-hove.gov.uk)