Parents of children with special needs have reacted with cynicism after Cheshire West and Chester Council was assessed as ‘excellent’ in terms of championing equality and diversity.

The council is proud to be the first in the North West to gain the national accreditation from the Local Government Association (LGA) but residents fighting to maintain services for their disabled loved ones say the findings do ‘not resonate well at grass roots level’.

Last year mums and dads successfully fought to keep open the Mulberry Centre in Sealand Road, a day centre for adults with a high level of dependency because of their physical and mental disabilities. However, parents are now concerned about cuts to the specially-adapted mini-bus that takes service users to and from the centre.

Celebration time at the Mulberry Centre on Sealand Road in Chester after the threat of closure is lifted

Speaking about the council’s ‘excellent’ rating, parent Keith Richardson, from Christleton, said: “Well, that does not resonate well at grass roots level”.

Mr Richardson, whose 28-year-old daughter Nicola has severe learning difficulties and is blind, added: “We are not sure if our daughter Nicola is one of the ‘minority of the most serious cases’ that will get transport to their ‘day opportunities’. I expect demand to fall as service users attendance drops and then a case for closure of the Mulberry Centre and it’s a lucrative sale to a developer no doubt to follow.”

Another parent, Michelle Jones, from Saughall, who has an autistic teenage son, said of the accreditation: “Typical, did they nominate themselves!!”

The final report received from the LGA described the council, whose pro-equality slogan is ‘Everybody In', as ‘blossoming and inclusive’ and a ‘shining light’ in championing equality’.

But Labour Cllr Reggie Jones, who supported the campaign to retain the Mulberry Centre, responded: “I don’t wish to diminish the validity of celebrating equality, diversity and inclusion, nor the tremendous efforts of council staff, but given the council’s track record on consultations and decisions behind closed doors, I do wonder if the majority of residents in the CW&C area feel the strapline ‘Everybody Involved, Everybody Interested, Everybody Inspired, Everybody Included’ is matched by the reality of their experience when working with the council?

“I think many residents will think this is another victory for the council in celebrating hype over substance.”

Conservative Cllr Razia Daniels, the council’s equality and diversity champion, said: “I am delighted to receive this award. This is a real tribute to all our staff and comes as a result of work undertaken across all council services, with input from all political parties, our partners and stakeholders.

“We are proud of our achievements. We are also conscious that our journey towards equality excellence will continue. Becoming an ‘Excellent’ authority challenges us to constantly improve, to work tirelessly with our communities and partners to make sure that equality is promoted and diversity is celebrated – our aim, in line with our slogan, is to have a borough where ‘everybody is counted in’.”

Opposition Labour leader Councillor Samantha Dixon said: “The ’excellence’ rating is testimony to the hard work put in by staff at Cheshire West and Chester. I met and gave evidence to the examiners who assessed the council while they were gathering information for their analysis.

“While the high ranking is a great result, It is important the council does not stand still because there will be, I am sure, considerable work to be undertaken as we go forward to maintain this superior level.”