Funding Shock as Government CUTS a Further £700,000 from Bedford Borough, Despite National Care Crisis

Despite overwhelming calls nationally across charities, patients groups, care providers and the entire social care sector for more cash to tackle the care crisis, a government funding announcement has taken yet more money away from Bedford Borough, with a further £700,000 cut.

A heavily-spun government announcement trumpeted a new 'social care grant', but this money is taken from existing local government funding in the form of the New Homes Bonus, with the net effect for Bedford Borough being a £700,000 cut. This is on top of the already-planned cut in the council's main government grant of a massive £7 million.

Meanwhile, the government's actions have indicated that if Councils want any extra money to deal with the urgent crisis in social care funding, they will have to raise council tax, by an additional 3% next year and 3% the year after.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said:

"Today's announcement is another shocking blow for Bedford Borough Council and its finances. The Government is already cutting our main grant by a third, and the effect of today's announcement takes a further £700,000 away from local services.'

"We would have to put council tax up just to get back to the same position we were in yesterday, let alone begin to deal with the social care funding crisis. The Government's plan is for councils to raise council tax by 6% over two years, but even then the money won't be anywhere near enough.'

"A new, national funding settlement is needed to avoid the most vulnerable people in our society going without vital care."