£310 million to be spent on care in Staffordshire

Despite the huge pressures facing social care in the UK, Staffordshire County Council has announced that a record £310 million will be spent on care this year.

Announcing its budget for 2018/19, council leader Philip Atkins announced that the council has managed to close a £12 million shortfall and balance its books.

Staffordshire is increasing county council tax by 5.95 per cent this year, which includes the government’s three per cent ring-fenced precept to be spent on social care – equivalent to an overall rise of around £1.30 per week in county council tax on a Band D property.

As well as investing a record £310 million on care of the elderly, people with learning disabilities and children in our care, the council will also roll out of the Smart Staffordshire programme, maximising the use of digital technology to benefit residents and businesses, and encourage a programme of housing development to support growth and investment in the county.

Atkins said: “We have a good story to tell here in Staffordshire. We have low unemployment, a good children’s service and our economic programme has brought in almost £400 million of investment – with every pound from the county council being matched by £15 from the private sector or government and once complete it will see the creation of over 13,000 jobs.

“We will continue to do everything we can to build on this achievement. However, as a local authority we cannot spend more money than we have coming in and, in order to try and close the increasing financial gap caused by increasing demand in social care over the next four years, we will all have to work together to help each other more in our communities and take steps now to live out our lives longer, healthier and more independently where we can, so the county council can focus on those who really need our help.”