Derby Social Services Is Feeling The Squeeze

Tough choices are looming for Derby City Council after the full extent of the financial crisis in adult social services was revealed last night. The department is facing a £3.2m overspend.

Spokesman Councillor Fareed Hussain said: “Hard decisions will have to be made.

“The gap in funding needs to be addressed and we have to find more money or reduce expenditure.

“Some of that could be through efficiency savings but, inevitably, it will mean the total volume of service is going to have to come down somewhere.”

Two-thirds of the overspend has come from the council providing more home care than it can afford.

Labour was criticised when it made home care free after it took control of the council in 2005.

The Tories and Lib Dems claim that is partly to blame for the financial problems.

To claw back some cash, the council decided last year to take away home help from people with the least severe needs.

Last night, at an adult services and health commission meeting, councillors recommended that the cabinet should lobby the Government for more funding.