THE borough’s Labour party has urged Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to sign up to a national agreement to support people dealing with mental health issues.

Deputy leader of the borough’s Labour group, Councillor Paul Harvey, and Brookvale and Kings Furlong councillor, Jack Cousens, have tabled a motion which will be discussed at a full council meeting this evening.

The motion calls on the local authority to sign up to Mind’s Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat, which is a national agreement between local services and agencies involved in the care and support of people diagnosed with mental health issues and it sets out how organisations will work together to ensure people get the help they need when they need it.

The motion says: “Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner, NHS England Local Area Team, North East Hampshire and Farnham CCG, North Hampshire CCG, North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Emergency Department, South Central Ambulance Service & West Hampshire CCG have all signed up to the concordat and are now working up an action plan.”

Cllr Paul Harvey told The Gazette: “I am hoping that the council will sign up to the concordat alongside all the other agencies and organisations in Hampshire because it is such an important issue and we are seeing cuts to mental health services in Basingstoke.

“It is really important these agencies do their best, sign up and work together to address their needs and support people in crisis.”

He added: “It is definitely something we can get behind and it shows support for Mind because what we need to do is pick up and support people where the cuts have had an impact.

“It is about addressing the issue but working better together and if we do that, we will be able to help people in a more focused co-ordinated way.”