Lib Dems win more cash for Islington Social Services

12.00.00am GMT Thu 7th Feb 2002

Council Leader Steve Hitchins is writing to Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford MP to thank him for recognising Islingtonís needs in Social Services. A change to the Government inspection of Social Care meant that Islington Council stood to lose £1/2m from Social Services. Cllr Hitchins wrote to Mr Raynsford on 16 January and went to see him to point out the problem. The strength of Islingtonís case has been recognised, and Mr Raynsford has now written back to confirm that Islington will be awarded an additional £275,000. Cllr Hitchins said ìWe take our responsibilities for providing social care to the community very seriously. Iím glad that the Government has recognised the needs of Islington and responded to the case we made. ìJust last month the Social Services Joint Review recognised the very significant progress made by the Social Services Department in a short space of time.î Background The Government has established a National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) to police standards in social care. This will be funded by transferring responsibility - and funding - from the money which the Council has spent on inspecting Social Services. But Islingtonís contribution to the NCSC will be £687,000 - when the Councilís own service only cost £168,000. This would leave the Council £519,000 out of pocket - potentially putting at risk Social Services budgets. Cllr Hitchins visited Mr Raynsford along with a delegation from the Association of London Government on 9 January, and wrote to him on 16 January to explain the problem.