Charging Policy Consultation 2007

Surrey County Council are thinking about making changes to the charging policy for home and community care services. In late 2007 until January 2008 the proposal for changing the policy went out for consultation.

Under the council’s current charging policy some people have to pay towards services such as day care and home care. However, many people receive their services free of charge. The money the council receives from charging enables them to provide more care services than they would otherwise be able to afford.

Current Charging Policy (PDF document)

Consultation documents

Action or Carers (Surrey) response to the consultation

Action for Carers (Surrey) have responded to the consultation with some concerns. The organisations response is detailed in the documents below

Full response to Surrey County Council Charging Policy Consultation (pdf document)
Executive Summary to Surrey County Charging Policy Consultation (pdf document)

Update

Extract below of letter  sent to Action for Carers (Surrey) from Surrey County Council'

'I wrote to you in September last year to ask your views about some changes we were proposing to make to the Council’s Fairer Charging Policy. Since that time, the Department of Health has announced that it is reviewing the Fairer Charging. We have therefore decided to defer any decision to change the charging policy at the present time, pending the further advice from the Department of Health. The Department of Health has indicated that the new proposals will be subject to full consultation prior to the roll out of any new charging arrangements by April 2009.I will write to you again when the detailed proposals are made available. However, I would like to thank you for responding to the consultation and assure you that your response will be retained for inclusion in the review of the Fairer Charging Policy at a later date.'

We can now report that Surrey County Council have now deferred their decision to change their charging policy for community care services. Action for Carers (Surrey) along with other organisations put in a detailed response to this consultation in January 2008 and also presented to the November 2007 Adult and Community Care Select Committee on behalf of carers in Surrey.  The Department of Health has announced that it is reviewing Fairer Charging and the County Council has now decided to defer their decision pending further advice from the Department of Health. It is understood from the letter received that the Department of Health has indicated that new proposals will be subject to full consultation prior the roll out of any new charging arrangements by April 2009. Action for Carers (Surrey) will continue to monitor the situation closely.