Powys Lib Dems take action over 15% cut in third sector funding for adult social care services

12.00.00am GMT Fri 7th Nov 2008

As third sector funding for delivering adult social care services in Powys faces a potential 15% cut across the board, Powys Lib Dem AMs Mick Bates and Kirsty Williams have criticised the current Assembly Government funding formula, which does not take into account the higher costs and challenges of service delivery in rural areas.

Commenting Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates states:

"As a result of the below inflation settlement for Powys this year from the Labour-Plaid Government, funding for the third sector to deliver adult social care services in Powys is facing a 15% cut across the board. Many third sector organisations in Powys have contacted me to highlight the serious impact this will have on the future delivery of vital social care services across the county.

"For Powys Carers Service this will mean a cut of £35,000, for Disability Powys this means staff cuts and a reduction in services, for Age Concern this threatens the care they will be able to provide the elderly as winter approaches and amongst many others the Red Cross will face serious challenges. I am meeting with PAVO to find out what flexibility remains to change the final decision over funding arrangements for next year and to discuss the mechanism of consultation that was used to decide this cut in funding.

"Last week the First Minister told Powys to 'get a grip' over the local government settlement, but I believe that it is this Labour-Plaid Government that needs to get a grip. I urge the Assembly Government to implement a rural deprivation grant and develop a fairer system that takes local exceptions into account, so that the real cost of service provision is met and our rural areas do not further lose out."

Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon and Radnor added:

"The Labour-Plaid Government has dealt yet another poor settlement for Powys County Council this year. Despite the 1.5% floor in funding the low settlement will threaten the delivery of front line services across the county and we can clearly see this with the proposed 15% cut in funding for the third sector to deliver adult social care services.

"The Labour-Plaid Government must wake up to the reality that provision and access to services in rural areas often costs cost two to three times more than in urban areas. Welsh liberal Democrats are campaigning for a change in the formula used to allocate money to local authorities across Wales, which is desperately needed. It is unacceptable that the current formula is based primarily on demographic considerations so that rural areas such as Powys lose out, because whilst their population may be less than the more densely populated urban centres, the logistical costs of delivering services in the largest county in Wales are clearly much higher."