A CALL for Adult Social Care to be properly funded by central government has been made after Worcestershire County Council revealed it is facing a £17.9million deficit.
Of that money, some £15.6million is due to an overspend in Adult Social Care, said Councillor Robin Lunn (Lab, Redditch North).
“We have a severe crisis and sadly, with the lack of money coming from central government, we are in a position of just managing decline, which is something neither I or I am sure other members of the council came into politics for.”
The cost of Adult Social Care is spiralling as people live longer, sometimes with complex health issues. Others need assistance after their parents or carers pass away.
“This is not some arcane discussion about council funding, this is about people’s own close relations and how we look after them now and in the future,” added Coun Lunn, who leads the Labour Group at County Hall.
The County Council, which looks after Highways, Libraries, the Environment and Social Care, revealed last Thursday that it is facing a net overspend of £5million as ‘financial pressures on local government increase’.
It said demand for social care was the major factor in this.
In a statement the Conservative controlled authority said cost saving measures, including tighter recruitment controls, a review of all non-contracted spend, management of long term borrowing and spreading the cost of highways had reduced the projected overspend by more than £12.5million.
“Most of the councils that are having these financial difficulties are Conservative run, so its odd their own government is not helping them out,” said Coun Lunn.
“From a Labour point of view Worcestershire needs to be lobbying its own government for all its worth.
“The theory was that reductions in support grant from central government would be made up through business rates. But you only need to look at the problems on the high street to see is not working.
“We need a proper solution and the money for Adult Social Care needs to be ring-fenced to protect it.”
Councillor Simon Geraghty, (Con, Worcester Riverside) Leader of Worcestershire County Council, said: “Many county councils are reporting financial pressures as a result of increases in demand for Children’s Services and Adult Social Care.
“Worcestershire is no different. We have already taken action to reduce the predicted overspend. However in the absence of an agreed national solution to fund Adult Social Care we will have to continue to take difficult decisions in order to protect the most vulnerable in our society.”
