I WRITE in response to your letter entitled, “Dorset Enterprises Deserves Support” published on January 16. The current operational model is no longer fit for purpose.

Public funds are better targeted at providing more short-term support and training for those with disability with the purpose of enabling them to gain employment in the general market place.

During the past 12 months we have been seeking suitable partners to enable us to provide such support and, despite some 12 different groups showing interest, none were willing to take on the employment liability that would arise as result of transfer.

Of the 23 current employees, 19 have some form of disability and eight are resident outside of Bournemouth.

At a time when our adult social care budget is under considerable strain we have to target resources to the most vulnerable in either substantial or critical need categories.

None of the current employees at the factory meet that criteria and we simply cannot justify taking £470,000 out of the mainstream budget to subsidise their continued employment.

The council is totally committed to supporting vulnerable adults and to this end we have invested some £3.7 million over and above our base budget.

We will do everything possible to support current employees through this time of change and where possible we will re-deploy within the council.

We are committed to identifying suitable partners to facilitate the continued use of the factory and to enable many more people with disability to enter the mainstream workplace.

CLLR BLAIR CRAWFORD, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Bournemouth Town Hall