Services at risk without full tax increase for social care

The Conservative proposal of only a 4.95% increase in council tax (2% for adult social care and 2.95% for general purposes) has been approved by the Council. This is lower than the 5.95% rise that is permitted by government, where 3% of this would be ringfenced to help address the adult social care crisis. Lib Dems voted against this proposal as other council services will likely have to be cut to make up the shortfall for adult social care. Morwen Millson, a Lib Dem councillor for Horsham Riverside Division, explains why the Lib Dems are so concerned by the Council's move.

Our own local county councillor Kirsty Lord spoke at this meeting on the Lib Dems' amendment to the budget proposal to increase funding for our high needs pupils and special schools. We costed a £1.5m increase with savings from non-frontline functions, in order to provide extra cash for our must vulnerable pupils now, but our amendment did not carry. This is very concerning given the challenges we are currently seeing in Mid Sussex.