Agenda item

This Council welcome the findings of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support chaired by Andrew Dilnot.  In particular, that the recommendations from the commission remove uncertainty from the cost of social care and introduce a cap on how much any individual should pay for their care.  If implemented, the recommendations from the Dilnot Commission will further the Council’s Adult Social Care Directorate in closer working between health and social care and using resources to meet increased demand more effectively, resulting in better outcomes for older people.

In Summary the commission recommends that:

·        Individuals’ lifetime contributions towards their social care costs should be capped at £35,000 (the most appropriate and fair figure). After the cap is reached, individuals would be eligible for full state support.

·        The means-tested threshold, above which people are liable for their full care costs, should be increased from £23,250 to £100,000

·        There should be national eligibility criteria and portable assessments to ensure greater consistency

·        All those who enter adulthood with a care and support need should be eligible for free state support immediately rather than being subjected to a means test.

Council welcomes the recommendations of the report and believe they will lead to better outcomes for Older People across the country but specifically in Oxford. 

Council asks the Leader to write to the Department of Health and the local MPs to express our support for implementation of the proposals at the earliest opportunity.

Councillor Fatemian moved and Councillor Mitchell seconded the following motion:

This Council welcome the findings of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support chaired by Andrew Dilnot.  In particular, that the recommendations from the commission remove uncertainty from the cost of social care and introduce a cap on how much any individual should pay for their care.  If implemented, the recommendations from the Dilnot Commission will further the Council’s Adult Social Care Directorate in closer working between health and social care and using resources to meet increased demand more effectively, resulting in better outcomes for older people.

In Summary the commission recommends that:

·        Individuals’ lifetime contributions towards their social care costs should be capped at £35,000 (the most appropriate and fair figure). After the cap is reached, individuals would be eligible for full state support.

·        The means-tested threshold, above which people are liable for their full care costs, should be increased from £23,250 to £100,000

·        There should be national eligibility criteria and portable assessments to ensure greater consistency

·        All those who enter adulthood with a care and support need should be eligible for free state support immediately rather than being subjected to a means test.

Council welcomes the recommendations of the report and believe they will lead to better outcomes for Older People across the country but specifically in Oxford. 

Council asks the Leader to write to the Department of Health and the local MPs to express our support for implementation of the proposals at the earliest opportunity.

Following debate, with the agreement of Council, Councillor Fatemian amended the penultimate paragraph of his motion by substituting the text “Oxford” with “Oxfordshire”.

The motion, as amended was put to the vote and it was:

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

This Council welcome the findings of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support chaired by Andrew Dilnot.  In particular, that the recommendations from the commission remove uncertainty from the cost of social care and introduce a cap on how much any individual should pay for their care.  If implemented, the recommendations from the Dilnot Commission will further the Council’s Adult Social Care Directorate in closer working between health and social care and using resources to meet increased demand more effectively, resulting in better outcomes for older people.

In Summary the commission recommends that:

·        Individuals’ lifetime contributions towards their social care costs should be capped at £35,000 (the most appropriate and fair figure). After the cap is reached, individuals would be eligible for full state support.

·        The means-tested threshold, above which people are liable for their full care costs, should be increased from £23,250 to £100,000

·        There should be national eligibility criteria and portable assessments to ensure greater consistency

·        All those who enter adulthood with a care and support need should be eligible for free state support immediately rather than being subjected to a means test.

Council welcomes the recommendations of the report and believe they will lead to better outcomes for Older People across the country but specifically in Oxfordshire. 

Council asks the Leader to write to the Department of Health and the local MPs to express our support for implementation of the proposals at the earliest opportunity.