Parents have been praised for finding a “burst of energy” to stand up and fight proposals to merge two day services for vulnerable people in Renfrewshire.

Tribute has been paid to the carers who have opposed the potential amalgamation of the Mirin and Milldale centres for adults with learning disabilities at every turn since the idea was suggested in November.

Helen McAleer, whose daughter Amanda, 50, attends the latter at the On-X Linwood, expressed her admiration for those she has protested alongside after their cause received the support of councillors.

The 71-year-old said: “I’m really proud of all the parents, because let’s face it they’ve got enough going on in their lives. They’re doing full-time jobs looking after people and they have taken the time to really push hard to be listened to.

“They’ve taken time out of their lives, which they don’t have, and they’ve spoken up for their adult children who can’t speak for themselves.

“We’re tired anyway but we’ve found a burst of energy from somewhere and I think it’s just that we see the injustice of it. I know money’s short but, for goodness sake, don’t affect the people who can least afford to be affected.”

It comes as a motion from Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson, calling on Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to stop its review and proposals for adult day and Flexicare services, received agreement in the chambers.

The SNP politician, who represents Erskine and Inchinnan, said: “There was quite a lot of, I think, genuine concern, not just about the proposals – that always happens when you try to review services, in particular services that a lot of vulnerable people rely upon and depend upon – but it’s more about the process started to ring with me as something that maybe should be looked at again, with regards to how that was carried out.

“That was what prompted myself and my colleagues and others to put this motion on the agenda, to ask the HSCP, can you reconsider possibly the way you’ve approached this particular part of your budget?

“Is there a way for you to look again at how this particular area is to be modernised, reshaped, redesigned, whatever terminology you want?”

The HSCP has been engaging on a raft of potential savings, which have been drafted to tackle a budget black hole in the region of £14.7 million for 2024/25.

A final decision will be made at the integration joint board (IJB) – the body which oversees the HSCP – on Friday, March 22.

While it’s a partnership between the council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the IJB is its own entity and isn’t obligated to act on the plea issued by councillors on Thursday.

Councillor Iain McMillan, Labour group leader and member of the IJB, said the motion was “largely symbolic” but sent out a “strong message”.

He said: “At the end of the day, it is for the IJB to make up their mind but symbolism can be quite important at times.

“It looks as if we’re going to get unanimous support for Councillor Nicolson’s motion and I think that sends out a strong message that the IJB might be away doing something else but elected members of Renfrewshire Council have real, real concerns about this proposal.”

Speaking after the meeting, Helen said the development was “encouraging” but accepted the battle is not yet over for herself and her fellow carers.

“I’m more hopeful now but realistically that decision doesn’t mean it’s a done deal,” she added. “It’s still got to go to the IJB.”