“Conservative proposal for new charges on mentally ill is wrong and should be dropped” Cllr Marion Minney

The Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Health & Social Services, Cllr Marion Minney, has today spoken out against Northamptonshire Conservatives proposal to start charging vulnerable people without the mental capacity to manage their finances a fee.

Conservative-run Northamptonshire County Council is consulting on plans to charge vulnerable residents who lack capacity to manage their finances and affairs under the 2005 Mental Capacity Act.  This service is currently provided by Local Government Shared Service (LGSS) Finance Officers. 

Cllr Marion Minney said “This seems very wrong indeed. Vulnerable people are being put on to personal budgets to buy their own care, and so those without the mental capacity to manage their finances will need help. Previously this has been done for free – but the Conservatives are proposing to start charging very vulnerable people. I think this is wrong and should be dropped.”

“It is already very difficult for some people to manage a personal budget and make sure they get the right care. It seems rather immoral to force people on to personal budgets, who do not have the capacity to make the decisions about their own care, and then charge them to manage their finances. Northamptonshire Conservatives need to think again and protect the most vulnerable residents in our county, and not load extra charges on to them.”