Rosie Douglas-Brown, Oxford Socialist Party
Oxfordshire County Council, Lib Dem-run, has proposed changes to charges for recipients of adult social care services. They especially effect those receiving support at home, those using the council telecare service, and those who may be paying a contribution to their care. This includes a reduction in the Disability Related Expenditure, working out the amount someone should pay towards their care, with consideration of the extra costs incurred by age or disability.
The other proposed change is a £10 charge for transport arranged by Adult Social Care. Young people using local authority transport to attend an educational setting will be exempt, but when used for other purposes, such as attending a day service, the charge will apply.
Finally, the council plans to charge everybody who uses telecare services the full cost of £9.87 per week, subject to change.
These proposals affect benefit claimants, who are expected to have their benefits cover transport costs. The consultation for these proposals is open until 21 June.
The council states this is in line with national guidance, and that most councils charge for transport, with no requirement to deliver free transport or telecare. This is the issue!
Austerity policies force the books to be balanced on the backs of the poor; we oppose this. We need an end to cuts and austerity, and make an appeal to the council trade unions to back our call. Let’s organise service users and workers to demand no increased charges, no service cuts and an expansion of services, fully funded and staffed with trade union-agreed pay, terms and conditions.
We support the policies of the main local government trade unions for councils to set no-cuts budgets. Council budgets should be designed to meet local needs!
