Somerset Council leader calls for social care funding help amid financial emergency
Bill Revans has written to Michael Gove, calling for urgent action, claiming the current local government funding formula isn't working
The leader of Somerset Council is calling for urgent action to fix what he's called a crisis in social care funding.
Bill Revans says without things changing soon - it could lead the authority to follow the likes of Birmingham and Woking, and effectively declare bankruptcy.
Cllr Revans has written to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), claiming that the current funding formula for local government does not reflect the actual needs and costs of providing essential public services.
Just last week, Somerset Council declared financial emergency.
The Executive revealed budget papers, which showed a £100 million budget gap by the 2024/5 financial year - mainly because of the cost of social care, which is expected to soar by £70 million.
Cllr Revans said: "Our overspend position is not because of poor control or oversight, nor policy decisions or legal action – rather it is simply an exceptionally large increase in our costs for demand-led services, set against our constrained ability to raise additional income.
"The model for funding social care is broken and we urgently need your support to ensure we can continue to care for those most in need."
Cllr Revans explained how Somerset Council is managing its finances 'prudently and responsibly' but warned it will not be enough to close the gap between income and spending on demand-led services.
He ended by asking Mr Gove to take action to ensure adult social care funding is addressed as part of the forthcoming Autumn Statement and Local Government Finance Settlement.
Cllr Revans has also written to all Somerset’s MPs to highlight the emergency and ask for their support by lobbying government on behalf of all residents in their constituencies.
Meanwhile Cllr Dean Ruddle, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Adult Social Care, recently wrote to Helen Whately, the Minister of State for the Department of Health and Social Care to explain how numerous external factors have contributed to the soaring costs of adult social care.
A spokesperson from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: "Local authorities have seen an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £5.1 billion or 9.4% in cash terms on 2022/23.
"Councils are ultimately responsible for the management of their own finances, but we stand ready to talk to any council that is concerned about its financial position.”
You can read Helen Whately's letter here.
You can read the letter in full from Cllr Bill Revans here.
Read more: Town and parish councils could be asked to take on more services amid financial emergency