East Sussex County Council moves ahead with meals on wheels subsidy cuts

East Sussex County Council is to move ahead with plans to cut its meals on wheels subsidy, leaving all but the most vulnerable of users to pay for the service in full. While the council had originally proposed scrapping the subsidy entirely, the proposals were rethought in light of a public consultation earlier this year. As a result, the council will continue to help with the costs of its most vulnerable residents, meaning between 100 and 150 of the service’s 679 users will keep their subsidy. The final proposals were approved by lead member for adult social care Cllr Carl Maynard at a meeting on Tuesday (September 24). During the meeting, councillors heard how each service user would be assessed on a case-by-case basis, to decide whether they will continue to receive the subsidy. This would involve assessments both in person and on the telephone, councillors heard. However, this saw concerns raised by Cllr Angharad Davies in her role as chairman of the council’s scrutiny committee. She said: "We did feel very strongly about the fact that telephone assessments in many instances wouldn’t be good enough and that face-to-face interviews are important.  "We also were concerned about how it would happen where a person would deteriorate [to the point they needed the subsidy] and it be reported either by their home carer or family.   "We were told they would have to go through the health and social care connect route. That would only be suitable if they knew about it and we asked that there would be plenty of information provided." Similar concerns were Cllr Kathryn Field (Lib Dem, Battle and Crowhurst), who argued face-to-face meetings would be more reassuring for the people affected. Cllr Field also raised concerns about the wider impact of removing the subsidy. She said: "My concern is broader than this particular budget. "It seems to me that when a person has been assessed as needing help, then they need help. Just because they have the money to pay for it themselves doesn’t necessarily mean they have the capability to provide it for themselves. "I’m concerned about the broader issue of the effect this has on the health of the person, the health services we deliver and indeed the social isolation, which leads to many other costs."  Plans to cut the subsidy were first agreed as part of the council’s budget process in February, with the proposal expected to save the council £483,000. When combined with changes to how the council cares for working age adults, the proposal comes as part of plans to cut almost £1m from the authority’s adult social care budget. The current subsidy is set at £4.10 per person towards the full cost of each meal, which ranges from £4 to £8. Two lunch clubs also received the subsidy, although the council is to withdraw it and offer their organisers support to seek alternative funding to continue, if this is required. Individuals who attend the clubs will be given advice and offered assessments if appropriate, the council says. (By Huw Oxburgh - Local Democracy Reporter)