By Claire Warrender

CAMPAIGNERS AGAINST the introduction of increased home care charges have again failed to secure a U-turn from Fife Council policy- makers.

The authority’s social work and health committee agreed this week that new charges for home care, shopping delivery and community alarms would come into effect on April 7.

This is despite a bid by the Labour opposition to have the entire scheme postponed until individual financial assessments are completed and community consultations carried out.

The cost of home care will rise from £4 per week to as much as £11 per hour in some cases, but it will be means tested and the council has given an assurance that no one will pay more than they can afford and services will not be withdrawn from those who cannot pay.

A concession secured by opponents means the new £7 shopping delivery charge will also be means tested, meaning only 30% of those who receive the service will pay for it. However, the flat £1 per week charge for community alarms will stand.

The council agreed the new policy in October but members of Campaign Against Charges (CAC), formed in the wake of the controversy, have claimed the charges are “illegal and immoral” and would hit the most vulnerable members of the community.

They have also criticised the fact that consultations and financial assessments were not carried out before the decision was made.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Labour councillor David Ross said, “There is a fundamental difference between giving information to people and consultation.

“What we seem to be doing is going out and telling people what’s happening, and perhaps not very well, rather than consulting with them, discussing the issues and coming back.

“We recognise one or two minor tweaks have been made on the back of that and we welcome that but it needs to go much further.”

Raising fears that the policy was consigning disabled and elderly Fifers to a future of poverty, the councillor urged the committee to delay its implementation further.

“We are suggesting we defer to the next committee the implementation of these charges to allow us to have these financial reports brought back to us so we can still go ahead with a charging scheme that actually does protect those who are most vulnerable and we can actually stand up and defend,” he said.

But depute council leader Elizabeth Riches accused Labour of attempting to “elongate the anxiety for service users and staff.”

“Those who cannot afford to pay will not be charged. Those who can afford it will pay,” she said.

“All users are going to be offered a chance to have a financial assessment to ensure they are receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled.”

She added, “There has been misinformation and we want to concentrate on providing the best services we can for as many people as possible.

“Consultation has been ongoing for many years. Labour had this exact proposal to increase charges and raise a similar amount of money.

“It was in their budget over two years and their budget was in deficit with real problems because their proposal was not carried out.”

The committee took a vote on Labour’s motion which was defeated by eight votes to five.

CAC spokesperson Maureen Closs was critical of the decision.

“They tell us they have put the charges on hold so that they can do the assessments, whilst at the same time they have submitted a report to the social work and health committee which claims to demonstrate they have been consulting with people from 2004 right up to this month,” she said.

“People who were involved in 2004 remember that groups received cursory visits from council officials saying that there was a possibility that the council would have to review its charging policies—no mention of amounts, specific social work services which would be involved, nothing.

“It is alarming that they would seek to provide such misleading information to councillors and the public.

“It is clear that the council has no idea of what consultation, even at the lowest level, involves.”