Telford & Wrekin Council has made ‘over payments’ to Adult Social Care providers of £900k at a time when the Labour Administration is also looking to cut expenditure by £10.5m over the next 2 years.
At the same time, some payments to companies providing this vital care have not been made until the council is chased and pressed for payment.
Serious problems with the Council’s payment system, which were first raised over 2 years ago, have been allowed to deteriorate despite being flagged up as failing in September 2011, July 2012, March 2013 and during a current 4th investigation.
The Adult Social Care Budget was overspent by £2.8m this year.
Shadow Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Cllr. Jacqui Seymour said “I can only wonder what on earth is going on with such chaotic mismanagement of such a vital service.”
“We have worked hard on our alternative budget proposals, which have sought to cushion the worse effects of Labour’s proposed £10.5m budget cuts only to find that they have paid out nearly £1m for services that do not exist.”
“I have to press the Councillor responsible for Adult Social care to make it clear to us if he knew about this serious problem, and if so why it still remains unresolved?”
“Delaying payments to companies for vital services they provide is bad enough for a so called ‘Business Winning Council’, but paying out £900k of tax payer’s money for non existent services just beggars belief.”