Lib Dem condemns "mean and petty charge" for day care

11.41.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 20th Feb 2006

The mean and petty charge by Bromley Tories targets the most vulnerable members of the community

Liberal Democrat Social Services Spokesman Cllr Geoff Gostt has condemned the proposals passed in the Council budget by the Tories to introduce charges for day care services for the elderly and adults with learning difficulties.

Under the proposals pass, there will be a maximum charge of nearly £8.40 a day to those attending the Day Care centres. Council staff will have to administer the means testing of clients to see how much they will have to pay and also invoice those concerned. The estimated income to the Council will be £30 000 a year.

"This is a mean and petty charge," said Cllr Gostt. "It targets the most vulnerable members of the community and, by the time the administration has been carried out, will hardly be cost efficient to run."

The Liberal Democrats, in their budget proposals, would have scrapped these charges and not proceed with the closure of the Bellegrove day care centre in St Paul's Cray. Both of these proposals were voted down by the Tories.