I AM writing in response to the letter from Adrian Fudge (Daily Echo, December 28) where he states that he is confused by my comments on the Adult Social Care (ASC) budget in Bournemouth.

To help clarify matters, Bournemouth protects care for elderly residents by spending a higher than average proportion of available budget on ASC compared with unitary council averages (38 per cent compared with 35 per cent).

This reflects the demographic profile of Bournemouth as well as the needs of eligible residents.

A recent independent review noted that there has been significant growth in expenditure on ASC in Bournemouth over recent years and this growth is increasing. The financial pressures are essentially through the rising costs of home care and residential care packages.

These are due to increases in the numbers of Bournemouth residents eligible for services and the complexity of their care needs, and increases in the cost of care due to the introduction of the national living wage.

Without the introduction of the two per cent ASC precept this year, the budget would have been under greater pressure and then even more council services would have been adversely affected to the detriment of all residents.

On the specific issue raised about expenditure within the council’s Statement of Accounts, this includes adjustments for depreciation and pension movements which vary each year. The 2016/17 forecast position does not include these and they are added at the year-end in the Statement of Accounts.

For 2017/18, the financial situation deteriorates further due to the impact of the latest austerity measures introduced by the government, including recent announcements of cuts to the funding for authorities which have delivered housing growth.

Bournemouth is facing a further annual cut in funding of over £7.7million next year which will mean the council is receiving over £51m less annually in government funding when compared to 2010/11.

With a total budget of around £135m and pressures of over £7.8m next year in ASC services alone, the council will have to work even harder to protect services for Bournemouth’s most vulnerable residents.

These services include those to vulnerable children that are often overlooked in debates over the use of scarce council resources.

Cllr JOHN BEESLEY

Leader, Bournemouth Borough Council

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