Lib Dem Success on Home Care Funding

4.36.48pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 6th Apr 2010

Liberal Democrats today welcomed the decision of Council to write to the Secretary of State for Health about the funding of the Personal Care at Home Bill. As it is currently written, the Bill would have huge funding implications for local councils, and may well mean cuts in other services to pay for it.

Cllr Zoe Patrick, Leader of the Opposition, said that she was sure that the whole council supported the principle of helping more people stay in their own homes without financial stress, but there were concerns that the current Bill would lead to costs of £250 million for councils across the country.

Her motion, asking for the Council to make these concerns known to Government, was passed. Zoe said, "I am pleased that the Council has agreed to write to the Secretary of State to make Government aware of the huge burden they would be placing on local authorities, like Oxfordshire. Older people tell us they want to stay at home as long as they can, and they often need financial support to enable them to do this, but the cost needs to be funded nationally."