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Adult care costs 'could bankrupt council'

BBC Sarah Wakefield is standing in front of the council building. She is wearing a blue scarf and a blue jacket. She is smiling at the camera.BBC
Sarah Wakefield heads up adult services at the council

A councillor has said the government needs to urgently help their authority with adult care costs, to avoid bankruptcy.

Despite welcoming the government's plan for reform, Somerset councillor Sarah Wakefield, lead member for Adults Services, Housing and Homelessness, said she is concerned funding will take too long to arrive.

The Liberal Democrat-led Somerset Council spends 70-80% of its whole budget on social care and education.

Ms Wakefield said: "It would push us to bankruptcy if we couldn't find the care for the price we can pay."

Janet Wills is sitting in her care home's front room. She is wearing a red jumper and glasses. She is smiling.
Janet Wills said she often had falls when she lived alone

She added: "We have a statutory duty to provide care and support for people who need it."

Wes Streeting, the health and social care secretary has promised "to finally grasp the nettle on social care reform".

The independent commission, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, will begin work in April but is not due to publish its final report until 2028.

Ms Wakefield added: "They said it's going to take three years and for us that's too long.

"We have a struggle every year to cover the cost of adult services in Somerset. We need extra funding now, not in three years time."

This comes after Somerset Council declared a financial emergency in November 2023, and only managed to pass a balanced budget in February 2024 by committing to the maximum possible rise in council tax.

Natasha Chapman is sitting in the front room of a care home. She is wearing a light pink shirt and glasses.
Natasha Chapman said it was important residents had a good quality of life

Janet Wills, 92, from Bridgwater has lived at Beaufort Home in Burnham-on-Sea for three years, with her care funded by Somerset Council.

She said she never thought she would end up in a home.

"I'm please they took me on, it's a lovely home. Otherwise I'd have a lonely life by myself," Ms Wills said.

"I lived in a flat but I couldn't manage myself. I kept falling all the time."

Natasha Chapman, manager at Beaufort House, said the environment in the home was "great".

"For Janet particularly, it's about quality of life," Ms Chapman added.

"She'd be worried about falling constantly. Being on her own was completely isolating."

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