"Below inflation settlement threatening third sector delivery of adult social care in Powys" - Mick Bates AM (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

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Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

"Below inflation settlement threatening third sector delivery of adult social care in Powys" - Mick Bates AM

January 28, 2009 12:00 AM

Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates has challenged the Minister for Social Justice in the chamber over the impact of a below inflation local government settlement, which has forced a 15% cut in third sector funding for delivering adult social care services in Powys.

Commenting, Mick stated:

"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 has seen 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.

"The WLGA highlights that while resource allocation mechanisms have changed in recent years to reflect the additional costs of deprivation, the additional costs of delivering services over sparsely populated areas have been neglected. In light of this I strongly support the WLGA in their campaign for a sparsity grant to reflect the higher costs of service delivery in rural areas.

"Combined with a below inflation settlement for Powys County Council, which has seen adult services funding cut by 15% across the board, this has seriously threatened the ability of the voluntary sector to deliver adult social care services across the County.

"I have challenged the Minister for Social Justice on what assessment he has made of the impact of the local government settlement on the ability of voluntary organisations to continue their valuable work, particularly in rural areas where the delivery of services often costs two to three times higher than in urban areas."

End/Diwedd