SERVICES for some of Southampton's most vulnerable residents will be closed despite a six month-long battle to save them.

Yesterday carers and organisations representing adults with learning disabilities finally admitted defeat as Labour council leaders voted to close day services and a respite centre.

But Labour council leader Simon Letts again gave his assurance that services would not close until alternatives were found, meaning they will not be axed until much later in the year than originally planned.

The plans, alongside proposals to close the Woodside Lodge care home, were announced last summer before consultation was carried out with carers.

A final decision had been reached by Labour council bosses last month, but it was stalled after the Conservative opposition called the decision in for further scrutiny.

Labour chiefs said shrivelling Government hand-outs mean they need to plug a black hole of £31m in the council's budget for 2015/16 - and the £1.2m adult social care cuts will now go towards meeting that figure.

Many of the carers of the 300 people affected have fought the plans at a series of meetings, and again at last meeting council chiefs came under fire for the way the plans have been handled.

At last night's cabinet meeting they were accused of “major incompetence” for not having assessed service users before putting forward the closure plans, while they were told by Alex Iles from Mencap that the proposals could have a “catastrophic impact” on the lives of some people.

Council officers said new assessments would need to have been carried out anyway before any changes to the services, and again insisted that suitable alternatives were available.

However Cllr Letts apologised for the fact assessments had not been done.

He also said the council was unable to dip into its reserves to suspend cuts as Hampshire County Council have done as “we don't have the resources available”, with the county council had reserves standing at more than £400m whereas Southampton has about £7m.

Last night the council's cabinet voted to approve the plans, which also means 120 jobs are likely to be axed.

It had been hoped the cuts could be phased in by April, but it is now more likely the services will close from the summer onwards, with assessments only likely to be completed by June.

Speaking afterwards, one carer, Gill Player, said: “It's disgraceful, I think they are doing a terrible disservice to the people that we care for.”

And another, Daniel Mar-Molinero, said: “This is a really good example of why politicians are failing this country.”