Free Personal Care (Minute 207 - 23 May 2019)
To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet (Minute 360(a)) as an amendment to the following Notice of Motion submitted previously to the Council by Councillor Biederman and referred thereto in accordance with Standing Order 8(2), namely;
Devon County Council notes that over a million older people in England are struggling with unmet care needs and believes that in light of an ageing population we need bold changes to deliver a long term funding solution for social care.
Devon County Council believes that it is fundamentally unfair that to access basic care many older people face catastrophic costs that can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds, wipe out a lifetime of savings, and force families to sell their homes.
Devon County Council also believes that England’s care system needs major reform to provide a long-term sustainable funding solution and to make care free at the point of use.
Devon County Council therefore supports Independent Age’s call for the introduction of free personal care for all older people in England, alongside a new social care contribution to fully fund the policy on a sustainable basis.
Devon County Council calls on the Government to take the necessary steps to implement this policy as swiftly as possible to end the care crisis and properly support older people in Devon.
Devon County Council also calls on our local MP(s) to support the campaign for free personal care, and to speak up in favour of the policy in the House of Commons and through their wider engagements.
Having had regard to the aforementioned, any factual briefing/position statement on the matter set out in Report CSO/19/14 and other suggestions or alternatives considered at that meeting the Cabinet subsequently resolved:
(a) that the Council urges the Government to publish the Adult Social Care Green Paper without further delay and, furthermore, responds to the proposals in that Green Paper when it is published and ensures that Members across the Council are engaged and can contribute to such an important issue; and
(b) that the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Services, continue his dialogue with Devon MPs to lobby central Government for the health and care arrangements, including the workforce requirements, that are in the best interests of all adults in Devon regardless of their age or specific health and care needs.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Pursuant to County Council Minute 207 of 23 May 2019 relating to the Notice of Motion set out below as previously submitted and formally moved and seconded by Councillor Biederman that:
Devon County Council notes that over a million older people in England are struggling with unmet care needs and believes that in light of an ageing population we need bold changes to deliver a long term funding solution for social care.
Devon County Council believes that it is fundamentally unfair that to access basic care many older people face catastrophic costs that can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds, wipe out a lifetime of savings, and force families to sell their homes.
Devon County Council also believes that England’s care system needs major reform to provide a long-term sustainable funding solution and to make care free at the point of use.
Devon County Council therefore supports Independent Age’s call for the introduction of free personal care for all older people in England, alongside a new social care contribution to fully fund the policy on a sustainable basis.
Devon County Council calls on the Government to take the necessary steps to implement this policy as swiftly as possible to end the care crisis and properly support older people in Devon.
Devon County Council also calls on our local MP(s) to support the campaign for free personal care, and to speak up in favour of the policy in the House of Commons and through their wider engagements.
and having had regard to the advice of the Cabinet set out in Minute 360(a) of 12 June 2019:
Councillor Hart MOVED and Councillor McInnes SECONDED that the Cabinet’s advice be accepted and in response to the Notice of Motion;
(a) that the Council urges the Government to publish the Adult Social Care Green Paper without further delay and, furthermore, responds to the proposals in that Green Paper when it is published and ensures that Members across the Council are engaged and can contribute to such an important issue; and
(b) that the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Services, continue his dialogue with Devon MPs to lobby central Government for the health and care arrangements, including the workforce requirements, that are in the best interests of all adults in Devon regardless of their age or specific health and care needs.
The amendment in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and subsequently thereafter also CARRIED as the substantive motion.