Issue - meetings

Local authorities have discretionary powers to charge adult recipients of non-residential services. The decision as to whether or not to charge and how to charge are matters for local choice subject to public law principles and must comply with the Department of Health’s ‘Fairer Charging’ guidance, issued in 2003. Following consultation with service users, this report recommends that Members agree to adopt a revised policy, namely the Brent Council’s Fairer Contributions Policy [the ‘policy’] which will ensure that practice in Brent is in line with Department of Health’s Guidance.

      i.        that the Fairer Contributions Policy (attached at Appendix A to the report) be adopted;

    ii.        that it be agreed that the new policy should begin to be implemented from 1^st October 2011.

Following consultation with service users, the report from the Director of Adult Social Services recommended the adoption of a revised policy, namely the Brent Council’s Fairer Contributions Policy [the ‘policy’] which would ensure that practice in Brent was in line with Department of Health’s Guidance. Councillor R Moher (Lead Member, Adults and Health) reminded the Executive that in the past the council had not charged for day centres and these would now be brought into the policy. The changes would be phased in gradually. Members noted the revised Equalities Impact Assessment that had been circulated in advance of the meeting.

RESOLVED:-

(i)         that the Fairer Contributions Policy (attached at Appendix A to the report from the Director of Adult Social Services) be adopted;

(ii)        that it be agreed that the new policy should begin to be implemented from 1 October 2011.