Prior to consideration and debate on the motion, the Leader provided an update on recent changes to the Council Tax regime, with Government’sproposals, announced by the Communities Secretary to give Councils the power to add a 3% levy to bills in 2017/18, and an additional 3% in 2018/19.

Proposed by Councillor Chris Jones.

Seconded by Councillor Angela Davies.

“Council believes that the failure of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to address the social care crisis in his recent Autumn Statement was a huge missed opportunity.

This Council is appalled at the government’s failure to address the crisis in social care. In recent months the entire health and care sector, including councils, care providers, charities, the NHS, health economists, Parliamentarians and the Care Quality Commission have united around the urgent need to address the unsustainable pressures facing adult social care and the growing funding gap those pressures are creating.

The Local Government Association estimates that adult social care faces a funding gap of £1.3 billion by 2019/20.

The failure to deliver additional funding will have knock-on effects on the viability of care providers and the sustainability of the NHS. Most importantly, the impact will fall on residents. Unmet need is likely to increase and elderly and vulnerable people will continue to face uncertainty in the care they need to support their independence and wellbeing.

The crisis in social care simply cannot be ignored any longer. Council therefore calls on all parties on the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Health requesting an urgent meeting to secure the additional funding needed in this area.”

One amendment which had been circulated in advance of the meeting was submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(1) and (9), as follows:

Amendment

Proposed by Councillor Phil Gilchrist.

Seconded by Councillor Alan Brighouse.

“Insert after para 1…

Council has had only a limited opportunity, so far, to fully interpret the provisional local government finance settlement announced on 15 December 2016, but believes that the combination of increased Council Tax, use of the Better Care Fund and the changes to the New Homes Bonus, are not capable of addressing the underlying problems and pressures faced by this and many other authorities. 

Council notes that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has stated that  ‘when we allocate billions of funding from the Better Care Fund, we take into account the council tax raising power of each area’ but has also introduced new targets before the New Homes Bonus can be secured.

In (new) para 6, insert…

'genuinely' after "the failure to deliver...

Insert after (new) para 6 (ends '…their independence and wellbeing.')

Council asks officers to assess what can be achieved with what the Government has described as the ‘improved’ Better Care Fund and to establish how Wirral’s predicted share relates to the Relative Needs Formula.

Council notes that comments have been made at the way the Better Care Fund is being used, with praise directed at some areas and criticisms made of others.  Council therefore awaits publication of the ‘Integration and Better Care Fund Policy Framework’ so that our local progress can be ascertained.

In the meantime, the Council will continue to work through the Local Government Association to ensure that their Chairman’s statement that ‘There needs to be an urgent and fundamental review of social care and health before next year's spring Budget’ is vigorously pursued.”

Following a debate and Councillor Chris Jones having replied, agreed acceptance of the amendment and moved the vote, which was duly seconded by Councillor Angela Davies.

The amendment was then put and carried (59:0) (One abstention).

The substantive motion, as amended then put and carried (59:0) (One abstention).

Resolved (59:0) (One abstention)

(1)  Council believes that the failure of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to address the social care crisis in his recent Autumn Statement was a huge missed opportunity.

(2)  Council has had only a limited opportunity, so far, to fully interpret the provisional local government finance settlement announced on 15 December 2016, but believes that the combination of increased Council Tax, use of the Better Care Fund and the changes to the New Homes Bonus, are not capable of addressing the underlying problems and pressures faced by this and many other authorities.

(3)  Council notes that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has stated that  ‘when we allocate billions of funding from the Better Care Fund, we take into account the council tax raising power of each area’ but has also introduced new targets before the New Homes Bonus can be secured.

(4)  This Council is appalled at the government’s failure to address the crisis in social care. In recent months the entire health and care sector, including councils, care providers, charities, the NHS, health economists, Parliamentarians and the Care Quality Commission have united around the urgent need to address the unsustainable pressures facing adult social care and the growing funding gap those pressures are creating.

(5)  The Local Government Association estimates that adult social care faces a funding gap of £1.3 billion by 2019/20.

(6)  The failure to deliver genuinely additional funding will have knock-on effects on the viability of care providers and the sustainability of the NHS. Most importantly, the impact will fall on residents. Unmet need is likely to increase and elderly and vulnerable people will continue to face uncertainty in the care they need to support their independence and wellbeing.

(7)  Council asks officers to assess what can be achieved with what the Government has described as the ‘improved’ Better Care Fund and to establish how Wirral’s predicted share relates to the Relative Needs Formula.

(8)  Council notes that comments have been made at the way the Better Care Fund is being used, with praise directed at some areas and criticisms made of others.  Council therefore awaits publication of the ‘Integration and Better Care Fund Policy Framework’ so that our local progress can be ascertained.

(9)  In the meantime, the Council will continue to work through the Local Government Association to ensure that their Chairman’s statement that ‘There needs to be an urgent and fundamental review of social care and health before next year's spring Budget’ is vigorously pursued.

(10)  The crisis in social care simply cannot be ignored any longer. Council therefore calls on all parties on the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Health requesting an urgent meeting to secure the additional funding needed in this area.