Controversial Social Work Charges Scrapped

PLANS to introduce means-tested charges for social work services have been blocked by councillors. Under the plans those with an income of more than £145 per week would have been charged for the cost of services including supported accommodation, supported living and housing support.

Residents would also have had to pay for meals-on-wheels, day care, community alarms, laundry services, lunch clubs and after-care services for people suffering from mental illness.

East Dunbartonshire Council insisted that the move would save £100,000 per year which could be invested in front-line social work services.

However, critics insist it would have affected some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

The charges were voted through the council’s social services committee, but at last Thursday’s full council meeting the policy was shot down by Lib Dem, SNP and Independent Alliance councillors.

SNP group leader, Councillor Ian Mackay, said: “With a budget of nearly £300million and recently declared budget savings, surely the administration can find £100,000 from a more appropriate source.

“Some of the examples that were brought up in the council meeting were a nonsense – somebody being charged £3 a week for services when the administration of the charges was going to come to £3 a week.”

A council spokesperson said: “The introduction of the charges was agreed through the council budget-setting process in February of this year and the scheme that was initially approved by the social services committee was fully compliant with current Scottish Government legislation and with COSLA guidelines.

“Currently, 22 Scottish councils have already introduced these charges.”