Councillor calls for urgent review of Home Care Bill

Liberal Democrat Councillor David Foster, Executive Member for Adult Social Care has joined with colleagues in other authorities asking for an urgent review of the Bill going through parliament at the moment giving free Home Care to those with most critical needs.

Cllr. Foster said, "Colleagues across the country have grave concerns over the funding of this. It appears the government have grossly underestimated the amount of money needed and much of the money tho fund this will have to come from Council efficiency savings. This is coming at a time when we are already being asked to be careful with our spending and will be under increased pressure over the next few years. we are also concerned that this is being looked at in isolation when we are being asked to consider a fundamental review of how Social Care is delivered.

This is the letter to THE Times in full.

Dear Sir

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the proposals contained in the government's Personal Care at Home Bill are unclear, unfunded and are likely to have a significant impact on existing local services; including possible cuts and rises in council tax.

We fully support the principle of providing additional support to those with the most critical care needs. What we cannot support, however, is a piece of legislation that has major weaknesses and which risks adding further strain to an existing system already under considerable financial pressure.

Specifically, we believe that the government has significantly underestimated the likely numbers eligible for this support and also the likely cost of each care package.

Indeed, research carried out by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) across 61 local authorities shows that the average cost of care is about £200 per week; substantially greater than the £103 per week estimated by the government.

At this level the cost to local authorities would amount to around £580m per annum as opposed to the £250m assumed in the proposals. Local authorities are already required to deliver 4% efficiency savings next year and the savings needed to fund this policy would be on top of this.

We also have major doubts over how the government intends to fund this scheme. It has failed to elaborate on where its own contribution will come from whilst appearing to be reliant on savings, that may either be non-existent or may well have already been allocated elsewhere, from councils. This, of course, does not address subsequent years where even greater restrictions in public spending will apply.

It is also wrong to raise expectations amongst many of the most vulnerable in our society and their families that they may be in a position to benefit from these proposals when the reality may be significantly different.

We are therefore calling for the government to commission urgently an independent review of these proposals, including an analysis of the financial position, before progressing any further.

Yours faithfully