The issue that won't go away after Shropshire Council elections
Almost four in every five pounds spent by Shropshire Council is on services like fostering children, residential care placements, homelessness and special educational needs.An average Band D property in this financial year will contribute £1,395 towards the service, plus an additional 2%, which is added on to council tax bills to spend specifically on social care.The council also receives grants and funding worth tens of millions of pounds from central government, but it is still not enough.In fact, 71% of councils overspent on their social care budgets in 2023/24, according to the Local Government Association.To meet the funding shortfall, other services, such as road maintenance and waste collections, have to be cut, or councils have to generate cash, such as Shropshire Council's £56 garden waste charge."Governments have pushed back decisions to do something about social care, to look at how it's going to be paid for," said Debbie Price, who is the chief executive of Coverage Care, which provides residential and nursing homes for 682 people across the county."We have got to the point with underinvestment and budget freezes that I genuinely believe that local authorities do not have the money they need in order to provide the services that the people in their communities require."A number of really good providers may no longer be able to trade unless central government steps up and does something about this," she added.
'A system fit for the future'
The proportion of the council's budget spent on social care has increased from 58% to 74% in the last eight years.This is partly due to an increase in the number of children in the care of Shropshire Council, although the rate is starting to slow and stabilise.As of October, 735 children were being cared for by the council – a rise from 399 in April 2020.Some of the reasons why more children are requiring social support include a greater awareness of abuse and neglect and also cost of living pressures, such as poverty and unemployment.Shropshire also has a much older population than England as a whole, with 44% of the county being over the age of 50.It's thought the county will have more than 15,000 over 85s by 2030.The government has boosted funding for social care authorities by £3.7bn this financial year and commissioned an independent review into a dedicated National Care Service "to build a system fit for the future that is fair and affordable for all", the Department of Health and Social Care said.The department hopes that some of the review's recommendations can be delivered before the next general election in 2029.In the meantime, the next council administration will continue to work with council officers to improve efficiencies.But if the demand for social care services continues to rise and the funding to pay for it does not keep up, then council leaders may have to find other services to cut to free up funds.These are often the services that residents interact with on a day-to-day basis, like road repairs, leisure centres and household recycling centres.
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Reuters
an hour ago
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Chinese consumer complaints show widespread padding of car sales
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The allegations cover some of China's largest domestic and foreign brands by sales volume, including homegrown champion BYD and Toyota, Volkswagen and Buick. The three foreign brands operate their China businesses in partnerships with state-owned giants GAC and SAIC Motor Group. While the earliest complaints date back to 2021, the majority were published this year and last as a price war squeezed an industry crucial to China's export-driven economy. Reuters reviewed complaints posted on a third-party site used for consumer dispute resolutions, and two other similar sites. The platforms require owners to verify their identity and submit proof of their allegations. In most of the cases reviewed, the automakers responded publicly, saying they sought to resolve problems. Reuters was not able to independently verify the complaints or their resolutions. It is not clear what portion of China's car sales were inflated by the insurance scheme. 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The $6tn bank tweak that risks triggering the next crisis
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Scotsman
a day ago
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Edinburgh LGBT+ friendly shop, cafe and art space Kafe Kweer announces its closure
The owners of Edinburgh LGBT+ friendly shop, cafe and art space Kafe Kweer have announces its closure. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Viewforth venue opened in 2020 just as the earth-shattering Covid pandemic hit the world, forcing businesses to close their door and people to stay at home. Owners of the Gilmore Place cafe at St Peter's Buildings, Oskar and Zak, made the announcement on social media, with Kafe Kweer set to close on September 1 when the current lease ends. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They said: 'Our lease ends on 1st September, and with this we have made the tough decision to shut our doors after five incredible years on that date. We do this entirely on our own terms, recognising a coinciding shift in our personal lives, creative goals, rising costs, and beyond. 'Kafe Kweer started as a manic project at the height of lockdown, after we saw a Facebook post advertising a small shop looking for new management. Everything was so uncertain at this time that we decided to just GO for it, with zero expectations and lots of risk. 'We thought we'd be lucky to last a year. And here we are exactly five years later, despite Covid, Brexit, cost of living crises, and being located in a quiet part of town.' Kafe Kweer in Edinburgh's Viewforth area will close for good on September 1. | Google Maps Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The pair vowed to carry on providing a safe space for LGBT+ people to enjoy themselves. They said: 'Despite closing our physical space, we aim to keep using our platform and network to host some of our social events in other spaces, helping queer people find connection amidst this hostile world, and spreading the news about other local queer events/resources. 'The ethos and mission of what Kafe Kweer is about is more than one single shop could ever do, and we plan on continuing to be a hub for Edinburgh's queer community in one way or the other! 'We close our doors in September with our heads held high and our hearts very full with the love you've given us over the years. We know this'll be sad news for many, and it's a sad decision for us, but we believe in doing what we've always done: adapting and evolving.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Adding: 'We'd ask that you all come see us this August for our last month open. We'll be selling a lot of our stock at bargain prices , hosting Fringe shows every afternoon, and probably crying a lot. This is only the beginning. Queer joy forever.' Customers were quick to send their love and thanks to the cafe owners on social media in response to the closure announcement. Polly Edwards said: 'You have done spectacularly, incredibly well and been such a massive life-changing force for good for so many folks here, me included. Five years!! That's amazing! Hold those heads even higher cause you're a bunch of heroes in my book.' Cooper King added: 'We love you so much!! This space was one of the first in the community I came to after moving to this country, and gave me essential room to meet the queer community and grow as my own person. thank you for hosting us for poetry evenings, Lavender Menace meetings, and social gatherings. So sad to hear about your closing but I'm thankful to have had the time with Kafe Kweer!' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And, Fin Buchan said: 'So sad to see you guys closing. I've visited quite a lot of times over the years and remember coming in with my partner at the time just after you opened back in 2020. 'I would only have been 17 then, and seeing a space like this changed everything for me. It made me realise community was still out there. Thank you for all you've done for everyone who's come through your doors.'
