Funds earmarked for short breaks offered to people with disabilities are set to be slashed by more than half a million as the council struggles to cope with demand.

Concerns have also been raised that changes to short breaks could see the council-run service handed over to voluntary organisations.

Last month Bucks County Council (BCC) announced plans to overhaul the “unsustainable” service, admitting it is difficult to manage demand for overnight stays in the face of limited funds.

A consultation into how the services are being delivered for both adults and children is set to run until August 10 and a draft strategy on adult short breaks has been planned.

Speaking at a meeting of BCC’s health and adult social care select committee yesterday (July 24), councillor Gareth Williams said the short breaks budget is set to take a “big hit”.

He said BCC is looking to slash £524,000 from the current £1.28 million budget – however added there should not be a decline in the number of people accessing the service as it will be delivered more efficiently.

Short breaks allow children and adults with disabilities to spend time away from home and develop independence, which in turn allows their primary carers to have a rest from caring responsibilities.

New plans could see the number of residential breaks reduced, however BCC insisted services will not be cut “where there is an assessed level of need”.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Cllr Steven Lambert,  questioned plans outlined in the draft strategy to look for “suitable community alternatives” to help deliver the service.

He said: “I am particularly concerned about a comment about ‘suitable community alternatives’.

“When I read those in reports normally to me that says we are chucking those over to the voluntary sector and bye bye, we are now going to end the service.

“I wonder if you could clarify for me about what the community alternatives look like?

“How this will actually work with the individuals and making sure they have their independence, and making sure it is not going to be abandoned in to the community voluntary sector?”

Driector of joint commissioning at BCC, Jane Bowie, who helped write the draft strategy,  insisted people will not be “abandoned” and there are no plans to withdraw services.

She added there a number of community groups across the county which could help deliver short breaks and in turn manage the demand.

Ms Bowie said: “There’s a number of community groups such as the Princes Risborough Centre, that are developed across the county. “I think it is about making sure we suitably utilise those.

“Everyone who we currently support has an assessed level of need and we do have a statutory requirement to make sure we are demonstrating a suitable level of support.

“What we won’t be doing is just abandoning people or just withdrawing services.”