Peter Aldous, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate in Waveney warned of a Government plan to leave Suffolk County Council with a massive bill to pay for new social care plans. Analysis has revealed that Gordon Brown's unfunded plans for free personal care at home could put £26 a year on the average Council Tax bill, on top of other local pressures. This is due to an estimated £580 million black hole left by the Government.
Senior councillors in Suffolk have warned that Gordon Brown’s plans are “unclear, unfunded and are likely to have a significant impact on existing local services, including possible cuts and rises in Council Tax.”
Town Hall experts at the Local Government Association have added that “this is clearly a new burden” on councils, whilst Social Services directors from across the country have asserted that Gordon Brown has “significantly underestimated the true costs involved” v On top of the Council Tax hike, there is also the threat of an additional £20,000 “Death Tax” by Gordon Brown to pay for his new National Care Service proposals.
Peter Aldous said: - “Everybody wants to give older people more support in there old age, especially the most vulnerable. That is why the Conservatives will introduce a voluntary Home Protection Scheme to allow people, for a one off £8000 payment, to make sure that they never have to sell their home to pay for residential care.”
“However Labour’s plans to extend free personal care and to introduce a National Care Service are in chaos. Labour Ministers in Whitehall are considering levying a compulsory death tax of up to £20,000 on every person in England and now it looks like that they will put another £26 a year on Council Tax in Waveney. Gordon Brown needs to come clean about who will pay the price for his plans.”
