ADULT social care transport charges at Warrington are to be almost doubled to £3.35 per trip.
The increase was approved by the borough council’s executive board, despite a warning that it could result in some service users suffering financial hardship.
Councillors pointed out that there was already a robust appeal process which takes into account an individual’s circumstances and ability to pay and the council had the discretion to waive charges in particular circumstances of financial hardship.
The decision will increase annual income from £130,000 to £330,000.
Officers warned that any increase in charges would be unpopular and that some users might protest strongly and refuse to pay.
But a consultation exercise had shown that most people accepted the council’s reason for reviewing charges, even though they were unhappy with the level of the increase.
4 Comments
And when there are a lack of customers, what then? Close the service altogether?
Why Don’t the Top Council bosses pay the difference or even better take a pay cut for the next 4 years
Yes, it’s a tactic employed by local government called ‘managing demand’. Make a service so unattractive or expensive that people stop using it, then they have a justification for closing it down.
This is completely heartless, it is attacking the the poorest and most vunerable people in society. It is as the comments above suggest a devious way of cutting the service altogether. As transport costs increase the number of people attending the day centres will decline ……and eventually the day centres will close down. This is not only going to affect the service users themselves who will have to remain isolated at home all day, but also those who care for them many of whom are aging parents.
It’s discusting that cuts like this are being made whilst plans to waste millions on town centre regeneration projects (more airy- fairy blunders) are still to go ahead.
I just hope there are enough people in this town with some compassion and a basic sense of humanity to vote these unfeeling, insensitive, egocentrics out of office in May!