Social care funding shortfall (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Social care funding shortfall

March 17, 2006 2:34 PM

News that the Annual Survey of Social Services Departments has revealed a £1.76 billion shortfall in social care budgets has come as no surprise to Leeds City Council. In 2004, when the Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Green administration took control of the council, they inherited a £14m deficit run up by the previous Labour leadership.

However, over the past two years the new Administration has increased spending on Social Services in Leeds by over 20%. In this year's Budget, despite the Government's advice of increasing spending by only 2.5%, the administration injected £17m into Social Services (equivalent to an 8% increase), more than any other local authority in the country.

Councillor Mark Harris, Deputy Leader of the Council and Leader of the Leeds Liberal Democrat Council Group said "The extra investment that we have put into social services over the past two years, an increase of over 20%, is far greater than what was recommended by government. This shows the commitment that the Liberal Democrats, as part of the ruling Administration, have for providing services for the elderly and vulnerable people of Leeds."

Councillor Harris added "The fact is that central government quite regularly demands that we deliver these services but never gives us the money to do the job. If we stuck to their spending plans there would be a cut. But we have refused to do that. An extra £17m this year is over three times more than the Labour government suggested we should spend."

The views in this Press Release are those of the Liberal Democrat Council Group, and not necessarily those of Leeds City Council, its Officers or of the Liberal Democrat Party.