At this evening’s Health & Wellbeing Board meeting, Labour Councillors are bringing forward an amendment to the Green Administration’s report on increasing council care charges. 

Labour’s amendment recommends capping the increases in adult social care charges to the rate of inflation.

Labour’s amendment will be proposed by Councillor Nick Childs, who says:

“We have serious concerns about the proposals to increase council care charges to hundreds of residents over three times the rate of inflation on average, and in some cases by more than six times inflation, particularly in the current economic climate. 

“The charges are for services such as Acre in your own home, a daily meal and transport to a day centre, which are essential for hundreds of residents using Carelink and other services. The very low threshold before people have to pay for care costs means many residents who pay for care services are already struggling to make ends meet. 

“The last year has been hard on all residents and in particular vulnerable residents, those who need care and carers. It is important that the Council recognise the extraordinary financial pandemic-related pressures households are under when reviewing care and other charges.”