BARNSLEY Council will have to consider putting up council tax to fund the extra costs of social care unless the government provides another option, the leader of the council has said.
Government ministers are discussing ways to fund the increasing costs of adult social care and it was revealed this week the government is considering allowing councils to put extra increases on council tax specifically to fund social care.
Coun Sir Steve Houghton, leader of Barnsley Council, has written to the government protesting against that plan.
“We’ve got to find more money from somewhere, but we think the government should be funding this,” he said.
“Using council tax is an unfair system and puts all the extra burden on people who are often, and particularly in our case, the least able to afford it.
“What this will do is create a postcode lottery, as prosperous areas with a high council tax base will be able to raise a lot more money than poorer areas where the need is greater.”
Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle
