Council warned over care funding shortfall in Leeds

Care providers have warned that the cost of looking after vulnerable people is rising faster than council funding.

- by Don Mort

Concerns were raised that residential and home care organisations may have to cut back on services in a Leeds City Council debate.

Council leaders insisted there was enough capacity in the care sector and services were improving. In May, they decided to raise the fees paid to providers, by five per cent for home care and 3.5 per cent for residential homes.

But a scrutiny board was told the increases would not keep pace with higher National Insurance and wage costs, leaving smaller care homes at risk.