Agenda item

The Chief Finance Officer submits a report that proposes to increase some fees and charges from January 2011 rather than April which is the usual case for many.  The Board is asked to consider the report and advise Cabinet of its views on the recommendations.

The Chief Finance Officer submitted a report that proposed to increase some fees and charges from January 2011 rather than April which was the usual case for many. 

An officer from financial strategy introduced the report and stated that it was proposed to increase fees and charges in registration charges, bereavement services and for some services within social care and health.  In respect of the latter, increases were proposed with the areas of elderly persons’ homes, mobile meals and meals at day centres and in the standard charge for home care services.  It was made clear that no proposals were in place to increase off-street parking charges.  Officers explained that additional revenue acquired by the increases would generate an estimated additional £322,000 and would help support the 2011/12 budget. 

Councillor Palmer, Cabinet Member for Adults was in attendance and stated that in light of an overspend forecast within many divisions of the City Council, there was a strong need to attempt to balance income and expenditure. In respect of the increase in the cost of elderly persons home charges, Councillor Palmer made it clear that such increases would affect one quarter of current residents, and that contributions were based on a particular individual’s ability to pay.  Similarly, Councillor Palmer informed the Board that almost one half of home care recipients would continue to pay no charge for services. 

It was questioned why an increase in burial charges was proposed and why no such increase was similarly proposed for cremations.  Officers confirmed that charges for cremations had recently increased by 23% as a result of purchasing new crematory equipment, and that it would be unfair to impose further charges presently.

It was also felt that although an increase in particular charges could potentially have an impact on service users, the services were crucial to those that benefitted from them.  One example provided by Councillor Joshi was that the provision of meals in day centres was very much a worthwhile cause which reduced social isolation. 

Several Members expressed serious concerns in relation to the proposals.  Councillor Suleman felt that there was insufficient context to the report and that there was an absence of clear reasoning for such increases.  He felt that a decision on increasing the charges for particular services should not be taken in the absence of such information. 

Councillor Scuplak was concerned that an increase in home care charges could lead to service users reducing of the number of hours in which they received care.  She felt that this presented a potential risk to the health and well-being of service users affected.  Councillor Palmer confirmed that measures could be taken to mitigate against such risks. It was also made clear to members that the proposed increased fee in home care was still at a lower total cost than private providers of home care and that a significant City Council subsidy remained in place.  Furthermore, it was pointed out that charges for home care services were higher for those that lived in the county rather than the city. 

Councillor Grant was of the view that a detailed Equality Impact Assessment in relation to the proposals should have been carried out, and felt that there was no evidence consultation had taken place with key user groups affected by the services that were to experience an increase in fees and charges. 

Councillor Grant, seconded by Councillor Suleman proposed that the report and the recommendations to increase the charges detailed within it be rejected for the reasons that there was no evidence that consultation with service users or an Equality Impact Assessment had been carried out.  Upon being put to the vote, the motion was LOST. 

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and the recommendations contained within it be endorsed;