Today, Surrey County Council’s Conservative Group has called on central government to provide sufficient resources and a fair distribution of funding for Surrey, in response to its proposed adult social care charging reforms.

The Conservative Group has also called for the Government to delay and phase the implementation of its social charging reforms beyond 2023, and to fully fund reforms across the decade. This is to ensure that Surrey can meet current and future pressures on the social care system and has adequate time to transform its operating models and prepare for effective implementation.

Although it is difficult to estimate the actual additional costs of the new policies to Surrey County Council at this stage, 63% of the Council’s budget is spent on Health and Social Care and £1.1m is spent per day on Adult Social Care. Further, it is clear that additional costs will be very significant in the context of the Council’s current adult social care spend.  

Councillor Bernie Muir, who proposed the Council motion on adult social care, told the full Surrey County Council that the additional cost impact of the proposed reforms represents a “considerable threat” to the Council’s finances if sufficient new funding is not provided.

Cllr Muir highlighted that the reforms could exacerbate funding and staffing shortages as “there would be a rapid increase in the number of detailed assessments required, possibly for an additional 9,500 – 12,000 people.”

Surrey County Council’s Leader, Councillor Tim Oliver added, “We are lobbying for the best outcomes for the people of Surrey and our positive motion strongly reinforces our commitment to working with Government, to ensure that Surrey is equipped to provide the best services for our residents.

“Tackling health inequalities across the county and ensuring no one is left behind is a top priority under our five-year Organisation Strategy.”

Earlier this year, the Surrey Conservative administration successfully passed its 2022/23 Budget, which included increasing the Adult Social Care budget by £25m (6.6%), from £377m to £402m, despite all the Liberal Democrats, Residents’ Association, Independent, Labour and Green councillors present voting against the Budget, with one abstention from a Residents' Association and Independent councillor.