West Northamptonshire Council leader welcomes social care reform plans but calls for fairer funding
The leader of West Northamptonshire Council has welcomed the Government's renewed focus on adult social care but warned that councils need immediate financial support to cope with growing demand.
In a statement following the Prime Minister's announcement on adult social care, Councillor Mark Arnull said the Government had recognised the pressures facing councils, care providers and families after "decades of delay".
However, he said local authorities needed urgent action as well as long-term reform.
Councillor Arnull said West Northamptonshire Council was already facing significant financial pressures across adult and children's social care services while demand and the cost of providing care continued to rise.
He added that councils could not be expected to deliver a future National Care Service while working within fixed local government budgets and meeting increasing statutory responsibilities.
The council leader said West Northamptonshire residents expected high-quality care for older people, adults with disabilities and those with complex needs, but argued that ambitions to improve services must be backed by sustainable funding.
He also called for a fairer funding settlement that better reflects local demand, population growth and the true cost of delivering care.
Councillor Arnull said the council was continuing to protect frontline services despite significant budget pressures, but warned that without funding reform councils would continue to face "impossible choices" between balancing their budgets and meeting the needs of vulnerable residents.
He added: "I welcome the fact that social care is finally being treated as a national priority. But local government needs more than another conversation, we need fair funding, long-term certainty and a partnership with Government that recognises the pressures councils are already carrying on behalf of their communities."