Cuts previous considered “completely unacceptable” could be pushed through because of the adult social care crisis, Merton Council’s overview and scrutiny panel revealed last night.

The meeting, held to discuss the impact of cuts so far and the budget plan going forward, painted a picture of frustration, uncertainty and apprehension as to how elderly and disabled residents will be cared for in the future.

It comes despite the ruling Labour group’s decision to implement a three per cent council tax rise next year, with the approximate £2.25 million raised being used to fund adult social care.

Merton Council announced it will increase its adult social care budget by £9 million next year, including the use of the council tax precept, but Merton Centre for Independent Living (Merton CIL) remained concerned that despite the funding there would still be a further £2 million of cuts to some services.

The forecasted a budget ‘gap’ is projected to grow to more than £11 million by 2018, after no extra money was promised to the sector by central Government this year, while savings agreed by the council represent a cut of nearly £29 million from the adult social care budget between 2011/12 and 2018/19.

Wimbledon Times:

From yesterday: Merton 'forced' to raise council tax by three per cent due to 'national crisis' in adult social care

A report presented to the panel by director of community and housing, Simon Williams, warned that cuts were becoming increasingly difficult to make without impacting important services such as day centres.

Tempers flared when Conservative Councillor, and vice-chair of the panel, Brian Lewis-Lavender, asked to table a motion calling on the Labour cabinet to apologise to Merton’s “most vulnerable residents” for not raising a precept of 1.7 per cent last year, when council tax bills would have stayed the same due to the ending of the Olympic precept.

March 3: Peter Walker resigns from Merton Council as cuts to adult social care are passed in the budget

However, cabinet member for finance, Mark Allison, replied: “Are the Conservatives apologising for their government’s actions, for forcing council tax payers to pay for the crisis in adult social care that’s been caused by their government?

“You are trying to distract the budget scrutiny in order to make crude political points that don’t reflect the crucial point of your government’s failure to support the adult social care sector in this country.” 

Chairman of the meeting, Councillor Peter McCabe, compared the situation to the 1972 film, ‘The Poseidon Adventure’.

He said: “When I look at these figures and I look at what Simon Williams has said in relation to how much more difficult it has become to find these savings, I’m taken back to a film called The Poseidon Adventure.

“In it, the captain stands on deck and holds his binoculars to his eyes, and he sees a wall of water coming towards the ship. He is instantly aware that it’s going to turn the ship over and sink the ship, and there’s absolutely nothing he can do about it.

“When I look at these figures, and hear what experienced officers are saying about how much more they can do, that’s how I feel.”

In response, Mr Williams said: “I don’t think you’re being overly pessimistic at all. We are in a very difficult position. I think pessimism is appropriate.

“I am naturally optimistic, but I look around and I think ‘this looks extremely difficult.’”

Cllr McCabe, who has been involved in adult social care throughout his 30 years as a councillor, added: “I’m more concerned now than I have ever been, and I’ve been through some pretty dark days.

 “We have a government which is not prepared to face up to the realities facing adult social care and the NHS, who have said and done nothing to lessen this issue other than to put the brunt on local authorities, having constantly cut the funding that is coming to them.

 “We have talked about difficult decisions in the past and really struggled with them, and I really fear we are going to have to do some things that have been completely unacceptable before.”

Director of corporate services, Caroline Holland, said a referendum to raise council tax by more than the permitted maximum after 2019 should not be ruled out and added: “In the short term, it’s quite scary because we need to think seriously and hard about how we can make these savings quite quickly.

“Previously we had a cunning plan, and at this moment in time we have to take stock and think about what we can do.

“Looking at this now, I don’t know how we are going to close the gap.”

Chief executive of Merton CIL, Lyla Adwan-Kamara, said: “Disabled people have borne the brunt of austerity and cuts to support and services over the last few years.

“We at Merton CIL welcome all investment in adult social care by Merton Council, and we urge the council not to cut the £2 million they are still planning to cut from this vital service.”

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