A move preventing a decision to close several adult centers from coming before a council committee was undemocratic, an MP has claimed.

Commissioners appointed to Birmingham City Council because of its poor financial situation decided that the policy should not be “requested”, despite a request from several councillors.

Four adult centers in Birmingham have been recommended for closure by the city council as part of its cost reduction measures. The commissioners used the powers given to them by the government to override the usual process.

Preet Gill, Labor MP for Edgbaston, said the move “shuts down democratic scrutiny”.

Beeches GOLDD, Harborne, Fairway and Heartlands day centers, which support adults with learning difficulties, disabilities and dementia, have been recommended for closure.

There were outbursts of anger from the public during a meeting in early October when the plans were presented and then a protest outside the council house when it was confirmed the plans would go out to consultation.

Councilors requested that the decision be reviewed by the full council, but commissioners refused.

Speaking on Politics, Midlands Gill said: “We have already had a massive austerity agenda of cutting everything and now what we face in the last year since the commissioners were appointed is further cuts to vital services.

“When you close your adult centers, when you close your libraries, these are assets that once gone, they never come back.”

The commissioners were destroying democracy, he claimed.

It is not the first time the power to refuse scrutiny has been used, but it is rare, said Chief Constable Max Caller.

“The council had scrutiny prior to the decision on the day centre,” he said.

“Cabinet has been informed of the opinions under scrutiny and now has to get down to business and make the decision.

“Delay costs around £100,000 a month.

“That £100,000 is someone else’s service, someone else’s job.”