‘Unsustainable’ social care funding call by East Riding Councillor
An East Riding councillor has said the funding of local social care services through levies on residents is “unsustainable” due to a larger than average and growing elderly population.
An East Riding councillor has said the funding of local social care services through levies on residents is “unsustainable” due to a larger than average and growing elderly population.
East Wolds and Coastal ward member Cllr John Owen said social care was now costing East Riding Council around £1m a week, with spending swelling to about half its annual budget.
He added the 3 per cent social care precept, introduced in 2015 for local authorities to raise money for services through council tax, was a “sticking plaster”.
Cllr Owen said:
“Our area is effectively being punished for having a large elderly population.”
It comes ahead of East Riding Council’s next full meeting on Wednesday, January 13 which is set to see Cllr Owen table a motion calling on MPs to take the issue up with ministers.
It also comes as the average council tax rate for Band D households in the East Riding is set to rise by £75.31 from £1,506.22 to £1,581.53, according to government figures.
The amount includes the 3 per cent social care precept but excludes those set to be levied by parish councils.
The councillor said successive governments had “shied away” from adopting long term measures to cover the mounting cost of social care.
He added he was making the call to lift the burden of current and future costs on the local taxpayer and have them handled nationally.
Cllr Owen said:
“The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on social care and on care homes and the vulnerable in the East Riding.
“Governments have proposed a number of solutions to this over the years including integrating social care into the NHS or creating a National Care Service.
“They have also said they’ll publish proposals in a green paper but haven’t done so yet.
“We have a big and growing elderly population in the East Riding, it’s higher than in most areas.
“The amount we’re spending on social care now isn’t sustainable for the future.
“It will be very unpalatable to the public if we have to carry on raising the money through council tax.
“We can’t sit back and keep raising this money ourselves, local authorities across the country are aware of this issue it’s a national one.
“Since the social care precept was introduced this issue has been pushed down to local authorities.
“The time has come for all parties to come together at a national level to find a solution on this.
“I can’t see our situation with our elderly population changing, it will continue to grow naturally and the East Riding is a popular area for people to retire to.”