Vulnerable residents are still 'languishing' without enough support despite concerns being raised two years ago, a councillor has claimed.

Around a dozen adults with learning disabilities living at Lovatt Court in Stoke previously received support from Stoke-on-Trent City Council's city-wide prevention, early intervention and enablement service.

Councillor Daniela Santoro first raised concerns about the residents in 2024 after the council decided not to renew its contract for the service with Brighter Futures, saying they would be left without a vital lifeline.

Members of the adult social care scrutiny committee were given an update on the situation at Lovatt Court at their meeting this week.

Interim director of adult social care Ian Clarke said the service had actively engaged with the adults and supported them to be 'as independent as possible', and there had been 'no further issues' since then.

But Cllr Santoro, who is now vice-chair of the committee, said she did not accept this summary, claiming that after two years 'nothing has changed'.

She said: "My position was really clear – they are vulnerable, they have complex learning needs. These people can't engage in community activities, half of them have a stammer, you can't speak to them on the phone.

"I'm not reassured, two years on. Of the 11 residents there only one has a social worker.

"They can't go to community lounges, they can't take a unfamiliar journey – half of them can't take a familiar journey. A lot of them don't have family members around. It's chaos around there. They live in abject squalor."

According to a report to the committee, the residents at Lovatt Court have been supported via adult social care, with some being helped to access community support or provided with advice. According to the council, not all the residents at Lovatt Court are the responsibility of the authority.

The council is also developing proposals for an in-house working age adult enablement service aimed at 'maximising the independent of individuals and allowing them to continue to a full member of their community'. A final decision report on establishing service is being finalised.

But Cllr Santoro does not believe progress is being made quickly enough, saying senior officers have 'kicked this down the road'.

She added: "I brought this to the committee two years ago in 2024 and we're still told that the chief officer's decision report is being finalised. It does not feel like sufficient progress for a group of vulnerable adults. They're still languishing there."

Corporate director of adult social care and all age commissioning Nichola Thompson, who recently joined the council, said she would speak to Cllr Santoro about these issues outside the meeting.

The committee asked to receive further updates on Lovatt Court and the new enablement service at a later meeting.

A council spokesperson said: "Lovatt Court is owned and managed by an external landlord and the council will work with the landlord to ensure the living conditions are not as described.

"A number of the individuals who reside at Lovatt Court are not the responsibility of the local authority and for those that are, a review took place in April.

"The council is not at liberty to comment on individual cases."