Care costs could rise

The changes include charging fees to those who enter into deferred payment plans, as well as charging people who have capital in excess of £23,250 for the legal costs for organising care funding arrangements.

The council has not yet agreed on the cost, but it has said there would be an initial and annual fee.

However, residents do have the option to use independent services to administer the legal paperwork.

A deferred payment plan is an arrangement with the local authority that allows people to use the value of their homes to help pay care home costs at a later date.

Typically a resident will sign a legal contract with the council, agreeing that their care costs will be repaid once their home is sold.

Cllr Joanne Harding, portfolio holder for adult social care, presented a report during Monday’s executive committee.

She said the authority wanted to make it easy for people to live independently – and also planned to review the home adaptation grant systems for the disabled.

“The cost of care is very complex – and therefore we are proposing to make some changes to current policies to make it clearer to understand,” she said.

But Cllr Nathan Evans argued against the proposals because he did not agree with charging residents for spending their equity.

“I might as well tell my parents to re-mortgage their home and go on a cruise around the world,” he said.

“A resident with the equity in their properties would be saving the council thousands in care costs, but we’re proposing to charge them an administration.”

Members of the executive agreed to consult with the public on the proposals.