A JUDGEMENT - which could throw Trafford Council's plan to axe £8m from its adult social care budget into disarray - is expected tomorrow.

It follows a legal challenge this week at Manchester's Civil Justice Centre, by a disabled Trafford man, who was seeking a judicial review of the local authority's 2015/2016 budget, which would cut support to the social care needs of the borough's disabled and elderly.

The council held a public consultation on the plans, but law firm Irwin Mitchell, acting on behalf of the man with autism and learning disabilities, has been given permission to bring a review of the decision.

Barristers argued on behalf of the law firm, that the consultation did not properly present the public with any alternatives to cutting the budget for services and that the consultation should be quashed.

The law firm believes that other options to the cuts could have included using the council’s cash reserves or raising council tax to reduce the impact of the cuts.

Mathieu Culverhouse, the solicitor at Irwin Mitchell leading the case said: “This is an important case in helping to protect the level of services provided to vulnerable adults in the Trafford area.

“We have spoken with many people who would be directly affected by these cuts who are worried about the impact of the cuts.

"We have also been in contact with people who work in the care sector and disabled charities in the region, who are also concerned about the level of engagement with disabled people about the proposed cuts.”

“We will be arguing that the council has a duty to inform residents and especially those directly affected of its plans and the potential alternatives so that those residents can present an informed opinion on what they would like to see happen.”

The man bringing the legal challenge is a 46-year-old man with autism and learning disabilities who lives in a supported living placement and is dependent on 24 hour supported care.

He is reliant on support to ensure he takes his daily medication, to prepare meals, to access the community and when completing household tasks. He has limited self-care skills and would be extremely vulnerable and at risk should any of the support he receives be reduced.

The disabled man’s mother said: “We never received any notification of any consultation and I’m deeply concerned about the effect it would have on my son and our family, as well as a large number of other disabled and vulnerable adults in the Trafford area.”

A Trafford Council spokesman said the authority would be "strongly contesting the matter".

The ruling, before Mr Justice Stewart, starts at 10.30am.

Tomorrow evening, a meeting of Trafford Council's executive will gather to discuss the budget for 2015/2016, starting at 6pm, followed by a full council meeting at 7pm.