16 July - Cabinet Report (Part 2)
The
revised Adult Care Charging Policy was approved after the Government Ombudsman
criticised the previous scheme and Bexley Council accepted that it was “unfair”.
After “extensive consultation” (twelve weeks) the Council has come up with “a more sophisticated and fair system”.
Councillor Nicola Taylor (Labour, Erith) reminded the Cabinet that it had not
been a Listening Council when it ignored complaints about the original policy and it was only when one
resident went to the Ombudsman who upheld the complaint did anyone take any notice.
The Director accepted that the criticism was largely justified. They knew the
policy was unfair but there was no appeal process. The reference to the LGO was therefore inevitable.