That this Council:-
(a) believes that central government is responsible for ensuring that a national system of social care is in place that provides care for people who need it, and reiterates concerns that the well documented national crisis in social care highlights their failure to do this;
(b) regrets that the Government has failed to act to address this crisis and despite numerous warnings, the situation is getting worse not better;
(c) is concerned by the findings of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services’ Budget Survey Report 2016, which show that funding for social care is failing to match increased needs for, and costs of, care for older and disabled people;
(d) agrees with the ADASS that “we are at the tipping point where social care is in real jeopardy and this impacts on the millions of people needing care and support”;
(e) also notes a recent report by the Health Select Committee showing that increasing numbers of people with social care needs are no longer receiving the care they need because of a lack of funding, causing considerable distress to the individuals and families concerned and resulting in additional costs to the NHS;
(f) believes that one of the primary causes of the crisis is the devastating cuts made to local government over the past six years and recalls comments by former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Sir Danny Alexander, that local government had 'borne the brunt' of deficit reduction under the previous coalition government;
(g) is therefore extremely concerned that the Government’s plans to abolish Revenue Support Grant, in the misguided belief that local services can be adequately funded by Council Tax and Business Rates alone, will inevitably lead to more cuts to care and putting many councils at breaking point;
(h) notes that there are many complex challenges facing social care, such as the impact of an ageing population and the recent increase in the national minimum wage;
(i) wholeheartedly supports measures to increase wages for carers, however, believes the Government has completely failed to address the impact that its changes to the minimum wage will have on care services;
(j) welcomes the commitment of the present Administration and councils across the country to protect services for the most vulnerable, noting that Sheffield has proportionally given greater protection to care than most services, however, due to the level of cuts imposed by Government, it has not been possible to protect services completely and therefore believes a change of approach nationally is needed;
(k) believes that whilst they are welcome, the Government’s initiatives to tackle the care crisis, such as the Better Care Fund and social care levy, merely tinker around the edges and do not address its failure to adequately fund the social care system; and
(l) urges the Government to increase investment in social care as a matter of urgency, which as a start could be achieved through front loading the Better Care Fund, in line with the Local Government Association’s recommendations.
Minutes:
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9.1 |
RESOLVED: On the Motion of Councillor Cate McDonald, seconded by Councillor Olivia Blake, that this Council:- |
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(a) believes that central government is responsible for ensuring that a national system of social care is in place that provides care for people who need it, and reiterates concerns that the well documented national crisis in social care highlights their failure to do this;
(b) regrets that the Government has failed to act to address this crisis and despite numerous warnings, the situation is getting worse not better;
(c) is concerned by the findings of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services’ Budget Survey Report 2016, which show that funding for social care is failing to match increased needs for, and costs of, care for older and disabled people;
(d) agrees with the ADASS that “we are at the tipping point where social care is in real jeopardy and this impacts on the millions of people needing care and support”;
(e) also notes a recent report by the Health Select Committee showing that increasing numbers of people with social care needs are no longer receiving the care they need because of a lack of funding, causing considerable distress to the individuals and families concerned and resulting in additional costs to the NHS;
(f) believes that one of the primary causes of the crisis is the devastating cuts made to local government over the past six years and recalls comments by former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Sir Danny Alexander, that local government had 'borne the brunt' of deficit reduction under the previous coalition government;
(g) is therefore extremely concerned that the Government’s plans to abolish Revenue Support Grant, in the misguided belief that local services can be adequately funded by Council Tax and Business Rates alone, will inevitably lead to more cuts to care and putting many councils at breaking point;
(h) notes that there are many complex challenges facing social care, such as the impact of an ageing population and the recent increase in the national minimum wage;
(i) wholeheartedly supports measures to increase wages for carers, however, believes the Government has completely failed to address the impact that its changes to the minimum wage will have on care services;
(j) welcomes the commitment of the present Administration and councils across the country to protect services for the most vulnerable, noting that Sheffield has proportionally given greater protection to care than most services, however, due to the level of cuts imposed by Government, it has not been possible to protect services completely and therefore believes a change of approach nationally is needed;
(k) believes that whilst they are welcome, the Government’s initiatives to tackle the care crisis, such as the Better Care Fund and social care levy, merely tinker around the edges and do not address its failure to adequately fund the social care system; and
(l) urges the Government to increase investment in social care as a matter of urgency, which as a start could be achieved through front loading the Better Care Fund, in line with the Local Government Association’s recommendations.
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9.1.1 |
(NOTE: Councillors Richard Shaw, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Shaffaq Mohammed, Paul Scriven, Ian Auckland, Steve Ayris, David Baker, Penny Baker and Vickie Priestley voted for paragraphs (a) to (e) and (g) to (l), and against paragraph (f) of the Motion, and asked for this to be recorded.) |