At Reading Borough Council's full Cabinet last night (31st October 2011) a report was passed fully vindicating the Conservative led Coalition’s difficult decision to amend the eligibility criteria for adult social care.
On 4th August 2010, Labour community care spokesman, Cllr Mike Orton, said: "They [the Coalition] can protect the eligibility criteria if they choose to do so. Reducing the criteria will be choosing to make elderly and vulnerable people on low incomes and their families and carers bear the brunt of the extra Government cuts. This will be grossly unfair." He also described the plan as "a soft option" and "grossly unfair" to those least able to look after themselves.
Yet last night in a complete U turn, at Reading Borough Council's full Cabinet Labour vindicated the Conservative led Coalition’s position, by highlighting how successful both the decision and implementation had been. The report found that the changes were fair and equitable and were not having a major or adverse impact on people who have had their needs assessed as being at greater moderate level. The service provided appropriate advice, help and support to those people who have lower level needs but would benefit from continuing help and support. The critieria did meet the legal tests set out in the Birmingham judgment. No formal complaints have been received about the level of service.
At the meeting Cllr Tim Harris (Conservative Spokesman for Community Care ) thanked council officers, for the massive and difficult undertaking that they had completed.
Cllr Tim Harris said: "I am astonished because, prior to the election, Labour said that changing the eligibility criteria was a soft option and grossly unfair. Now they are in power they are completely vindicating the work the Conservative led Coalition instigated, by doing a complete U turn on their pre-election position.
It’s great that they fully endorse what we did but it does really strike me as hypercritical. This is a really sensitive and important area, and we must continue to work hard to ensure Reading’s vulnerable people are looked after."
The report can be found here: