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"As long as they feel that we will accept that it is David Cameron doing the dirty deed they will continue to take money from us hand over fist and continue to waste it willy nilly."And all local councils up and down the land are in on this conspiracy are they? I've never heard such a load of old b******s, there's none so blind.It is crystal clear that local authorities are going to be very short of money - that is down to central govt. - or your idol Slimy Dave and mates Nasty Nick and wee Georgie -no doubt and no mistake.You have been bleating on about saving libraries for weeks and weeks - fine - but something has to give, so what's it to be? Help charges for the most elderly vulnerable, the Youth Services for the younger vulnerable, potholes in our roads, fortnightly rubbish collections, less Social Workers, less education welfare officers. I'd be fascinated to hear your solution. It's really about time  you realised we cannot have everything, some things will definitely go, you simply cannot have it all. If only the government were willing to treat their mates who run the financial institutions as harshly instead of sucking up to them and telling us that if they get to upset they'll all leave the country - well bloody good job, I'll even drive some of the b******s to Heathrow, these people have dropped us in it good and proper and still they get away with paying a pitiful amount of tax. The privatised utilities are allowed to rip off comsumers and nothing is done ro rein them in - would never do to upset your precious Tory party donors would it?Hounslow Council has it faults God knows, but in this instance you cannot make excuses for this nasty, grasping, vengeful and totally incompetent government, just thank your lucky stars you didn't get stuck in Libya.

Vanessa Smith ● 5276d

Regarding the day care charges: The figures quoted are correct, the information is contained in Appendix D (http://memberservices.hounslow.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=57437) of the Budget Report (http://memberservices.hounslow.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=57436) now published for the 1st March Borough Council meeting. The explanation for the increase in prices to day care charges from the report is: 21.4 The Government’s ‘Putting People First’ Agenda now requires adult social care users to have a personal budget where they can exercise greater choice and control over how they choose to meet their care needs. Residents may choose to buy services from the Council or use their personal budgets to meet their outcomes commissioning other service providers or by accessing other universal services. 21.5 In the past social care services have often been subsidised. With the change to personal budgets the Council has reviewed its charges for social care services and sought to base them on the full cost of the service so that customers are able make an informed choice of care provider. This change in approach to the calculation of charges is reflected in the schedule of charges for Adult Social Care services and has resulted in significant changes in the charges for several services. 21.6 The Council’s Fairer Contributions Policy sets out how residents will be assessed and the full cost of Council run services. This policy is being consulted on in February/March 2011. Those charges affected by this policy are highlighted as subject to consultation in Appendix D. 21.7 Most residents will be unaffected by this change. Residents with moderate or substantial care needs who are eligible for a personal budget will continue to be financially assessed to determine whether they have to contribute to their personal budget in line with Department of Health’s Fairer Charging Guidance. Many clients will have insufficient funds to contribute towards their care costs. 21.8 Where residents are assessed as having sufficient funds to contribute the whole cost of their support/care needs, they will pay the full cost of the service received. Residents who choose not to disclose their financial information are also assumed to self fund their care needs. If they choose to purchase Council services, individuals will be charged based on the charges set out in Appendix D.

John Todd ● 5277d