Debate Erupts Over Care Home Funding in Barnet

Debate has erupted in Barnet Council over the funding of care homes, with concerns raised about the council's commitment to residents who can no longer fully self-fund their care.

The issue was brought to the forefront during a recent Council meeting, where Councillor David Longstaff introduced a motion on caring for residents in care homes and sheltered accommodation. The motion (Opposition motion in the name of Cllr Longstaff) highlighted instances where the council was allegedly not honouring agreed funding rates for residents who had transitioned from self-funding to council-funded care.

Councillor Longstaff voiced his concerns, stating that the council is no longer honoring the rate that it has agreed to pay so it says people can stay in the home and therefore ironically want to top up from someone who doesn't actually have the money to pay for it. He expressed concern that the council was not adhering to agreed funding rates with care homes, leading to residents facing potential displacement. He stated the motion called on the council to pay due regard to residents in care homes and sheltered accommodation who, through no fault of their own, can no longer self-fund but the council is no longer honouring the agreed rate.

An amendment to the motion (Administration amendment to Opposition Motion - Caring for our residents) was introduced by Councillor Moore, aiming to correct what she described as significant and possibly willful inaccuracies in the original motion, to ensure that the interests of residents, adult social care policy, and the work of adult social care staff were properly represented.

Councillor Longstaff believed the Labour amendment would negate the motion's core point, which was that the administration doesn't listen, particularly in relation to care. He stated, the labour amendment seems to us to negate the motion's core point which is that labour does not listen...

Councillor Wakely voiced her concerns, stating that the administration says it is committed to being a listening council and that caring for people is at the heart of its plan but what we are seeing in these cases tells a different story.

Councillor Edwards expressed gratitude to the adult social care staff for their excellent work. Councillor Stock shared a story about a fictional person called Hilda who lives in one of the care homes situated in Barnet and is in her late 80s and lived in London throughout the war.

Councillor Phil Cohen accused Councillor Longstaff of playing politics with people who need social care. Councillor Schutcher said that he would support this motion but obviously there's so much more that could be could have been done.

The amendment to the motion was agreed with 32 votes in favour and 19 against. The motion as amended was carried with 32 votes in favour and 2 against.