This issue is on-going. The letter below was sent to the appropriate person at NCC on 12 March 2007 - as yet (29th March 2007) - there has been no response from Notts County Council.

Subject: Dial a Ride

Dear XXXX,

My son Stephen received a letter dated 1st February 2006, from Paul McKay Director, Adults Direct Services today Wednesday 8th February.

Although the letter was addressed to Stephen I am answering it on his behalf because Stephen has Down's syndrome, I am his father and carer.

Regarding the increased charges why do you bother sending out letters explaining that due to budget pressures, Social Services need save £7.4 million over the 2006/7 (Another waste of valuable resources)

Social Service's should look in the mirror before increasing any charges. departments should or ought to be ring fenced with each area having to account for their overspend.

Mind you according to the ITV News on carers issues this week there are 8 Government Departments concerned with the Welfare State and they don't always agree with each other. Hence the suggestion of a new position namely a Tsar to oversee carers issues.

When you target the vulnerable regarding the overspend in all areas of the Social Service's it would help if you all remember this. Britain’s six million home carers are seldom seen and their voices rarely heard. 31 % are in debt and collectively we save the Government an estimated £57, billion pounds.

May I suggest the Department takes into account the following before targeting the vulnerable on a regular basis. A quarter of council tax is funding town hall pensions. Hard up families and pensioners must pay soaring bills to fund gold-plated retirement deals. Research shows £5, billion a year is diverted from local authority services to pay off ex-public sector workers. That means householders in an average Band D home pay £26 a month towards the inflation proof packages. Government advisor Douglas Anderson calculated that 26 per cent of council tax goes on pensions.

Please don't pittle up our legs and then tell us it is raining. Carers are paid less than £45 a week for providing a minimum of 35 hours care in their own home. Some like me have given up a full time job with benefits to care full time with no benefits.

A copy of this email will be sent to whocares@itv.com and www.itv/news for their reference

Grenville Green
Carer