Drive for extra cash (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

Drive for extra cash

October 20, 2005 2:29 PM

More cash needed

Councillor Kath Pinnock, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, has launched a campaign for more money for care for vulnerable people in Kirklees. "Here in Kirklees we believe that our social care services should enable residents to live longer, stay healthy, feel well and be secure. We are working hard by investing in services and providing the money for another four homes for vulnerable older people including two for people suffering from dementia as well as investment in extra care homes.

However, we are increasingly concerned that budgets are becoming strained. In Kirklees we are facing an increasing number of people who are living longer, we are providing better support to children in the Council's care and we must invest in our workforce. These are demands that are quite rightly placed on the Council but they are causing us some concern. This widening gap - between the needs of residents and the resources provided to the Council to satisfy those needs - continues to have an impact on services across the Council.

The pressures faced in Kirklees district are being felt by other authorities across England. Research (1) by the Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Social Services and the Society of County Treasures and the Society of Municipal Treasures (July 2005) identified a national overspend of 100m with 73% of local authorities projecting further overspends. Kirklees is not alone.

We are not content to wring our hands and say that nothing can be done. We have taken a number of steps to look at how we can control spending without reducing front-line services. These measures include having discussions with the Audit Commission in early summer to look at how other authorities work. The Lib Dems on the Council feel that this problem must be highlighted at a government level. Social care services nationally require a significant increase in government investment. We believe that it is the right and proper approach to take up this investment gap on behalf of the people of Kirklees.

I am sorry that the other political parties on the Council refused to join in this campaign. This has to be dealt with at a national level. Up and down the country councils of every political colour are facing enormous cost pressures.

Nationally the predictions for next year show pressures in services to adults of £663m and in children's services the figure is £599m. The scale of this problem cannot be solved in the Council Chamber by Councillors shouting and sniggering. This must be dealt with through proper debate at a national level.

The widening gap between needs of people in Kirklees and the resources to pay for them is widening. This is an issue that affects us all.

There is cross party working in the Local Government Association to resolve this issue but here in Kirklees Labour and the Conservatives seem to be content with playing political games which is a shame."