SIGOMA Chair responds to social care charging reform announcement

Posted on August 01, 2024

‘Unrelenting’ social care funding plan must be Reeves’ priority, councils warn

The leader of a group of urban and mostly Labour councils said he recognised the Conservative plans for a cap on personal care costs of £86,000 were not fully funded, but that councils were already struggling with their social care budgets.

Councillor Stephen Houghton, chair of the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA), told i: “These reforms were not fully funded and so there was concern within the sector about their implementation and the impact this would have on care provision.

“Adult social care now takes up almost half of spending power for councils, up from a third a decade ago, and is the single biggest area of spend and financial pressure.

“The sector needs a long-term solution that includes sufficient and sustainable funding while addressing the recruitment and retention crisis.

“We need the upcoming spending review to prioritise care funding, and local government funding in general.”

Read the full article in the i, here.