Care for elderly under threat again...?

The Tory council which trebled home care charges for some of the most vulnerable people in Lincolnshire are now considering cutting wardens at sheltered accommodation according to a report in this morning's Stamford Mercury.

Same old Tories, eh?

Lincs Tories get their priorities wrong - despite windfall from Labour Government...

With a whopping increase in Government grant of more than NINE per cent, the Tories on Lincolnshire County Council had no excuses when setting their priorities for the coming year.

But sadly, they have rejected a sensible, value-for-money plan to increase budgets to benefit vulnerable elderly people, children with special needs, youth services and the environment.

Remember, last year the Tories who run Lincolnshire County Council TREBLED home care charges for some of our most frail elderly and disabled people from £40 to an eye-watering £120 a week - provoking a 24-hour protest outside County Offices.

But despite the Labour Government handing over one of the most generous settlements ever, Lincolnshire Tories have stubbornly refused to reduce their crippling charges by a penny-piece.

At the budget-setting meeting on Friday, I supported the fully-costed alternative budget tabled by Labour Group Leader Rob Parker.

It would have made an extra £5 million available to spend on vital 'people' services in the coming financial year by:

* stepping up efficiency savings,
* trimming finance charges, and
* not increasing ‘balances’ as planned by the Conservatives.

The cash injection of millions of pounds in extra funding by our Labour Government would also have allowed the Tories to scrap planned new charges to make hundreds of young people pay to get to school.

Lincolnshire has one of the lowest staying-on-at-school rates in the country, yet two years ago, the Tories imposed a £180 charge for over-16s just to get to school.

Now they are consulting on a plan to:

* INCREASE charges for over-16s,
* CUT all free travel for children in faith schools,
* CUT assistance for children who move home during their exam year but want to finish their education without moving school,
* CUT all free travel for children who live within three miles of their school who now benefit from using empty seats on school buses.

These daft draconian cuts don’t address the real problems. Instead they penalise parents and children unfairly and in my view they risk adding to serious road safety and environment concerns.

The Director of Resources, Pete Moore, confirmed that Labour’s alternative budget is realistic.

Once again, we have shown Lincolnshire Tories how to put people first and get some joined-up thinking and real value for money. But sadly, as usual, they have refused to listen.

I hope the people of Lincolnshire will let the Council know what they think of Tory cuts - despite the windfall of millions from the Labour Government.

A champion for rail commuters...sometimes

Bourne Tory Mark Horn is attacking plans which could see rail fares from Peterborough rise by more than two-per-cent above inflation over the duration of the seven year franchise recently won by National Express.

The bus company justifies its fare hikes to pay for increased and improved services with more trains and more seats - and promises to cap season ticket increases to one per cent above inflation.

But Mark, a member of the ruling Conservative Group on Lincolnshire County Council -
and also a regular commuter - tells the Peterborough Evening Telegraph that the increases can't be justified and complains that they will force commuters back into their cars.

He may have a valid argument.

But then I don't recall Mark championing the commuters' cause when his Tory mates at Peterborough City Council doubled charges recently for on street parking near the station used by commuters.

Closer to home, I also don't recall him saying a dickie bird when his own Group at Lincolnshire County Council trebled home care charges for vulnerable people he was elected to represent.

Cash-strapped Council spends £187k at exclusive hotels and golf clubs...

How much of your money do you think Lincolnshire County Council spent last year at some of the county's most exclusive hotels, Golf Clubs and restaurants...
Would you believe a staggering £187,000...? That's the figure exposed in tonight's Lincolnshire Echo.

As you'll see, yours truly is quoted in the story: I'm angry that just a few months ago, the Tories who run the council claimed they were so cash-strapped that they had to treble home care charges from £40 to £120 a week for some of the most vulnerable pensioners.

I posted extensively on the disgraceful home care charges saga at the time (for example HERE and HERE as Labour councillors - and others - attempted, in vain, to force a rethink.

But the Tories claimed that the massive hike in home care charges was the only way out of their financial hole. It left some pensioners forced to find an EXTRA £4,000 a year.

What angers me is that since then, the same council has been officially slammed - again - for providing some of the poorest social services in the entire country.

It's worth noting that justifying the £190,000 spend in the Echo is left to an officer rather than a Tory Cabinet member - exactly what happened when the new policy was presented for Executive decision at the Council.

The Tory councillor expected to present the policy decided not to attend the crucial meeting - apparently she had a much more important political engagement at Tory Party Conference!

Senior social care officer suspended...

The senior officer in charge of implementing trebling home care costs for some vulnerable elderly people in Lincolnshire has been suspended pending an investigation.

Jean Lammie, assistant director of adult social care at Lincolnshire County Council, stepped aside earlier this week while an investigation takes place - according to last night's Lincolnshire Echo.

Ms Lammie is responsible for care services for vulnerable adults. It was Ms Lammie who was left to present the controversial home care charging policy to the council's Executive last October.

The paper should have been presented by the Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Councillor Christine Talbot. But Christine failed to show up for the crucial meeting, preferring to spend her time instead at a Conservative Party Conference.

I have no idea why Ms Lammie has been suspended or what the internal investigation is about.

Ian Anderson, director for communities told the Echo:

I can confirm that Jean Lammie, assistant director adult social care (operations) has been suspended pending an internal investigation in adult social care.

It should be stressed that suspension is a neutral act and is being used solely to allow a comprehensive and objective investigation into the matter to take place.

I cannot make any further comment at this stage.

Adult Social Services has long been a troubled department at Lincolnshire County Council. Just last November, Lincolnshire was officially named as providing some of the worst adult social care in the country.

Then, Christine Talbot refused to resign - as she had promised to do if performance was not sorted out following a shocking inspection report a year earlier.

Listen to Tories defend trebling of home care charges…

Tapes of Lincolnshire Tory councillors defending their poor record on social services – including the controversial decision to treble home care charges – are now available at the website of Orchard News Bureau.

As well as a tape to play, there's a written transcript of questions from myself and colleagues to members of the Executive, as well as their answers.

Sad that it takes a freelance journalist to provide this public service to the public and that our County Council have nothing to match.

Anyway, thanks to journalist Richard Orange. Hope you enjoy.