Malling Mail
May/June 2019
Serving local people, businesses & events in Addington, Birling, East Malling, Kings Hill, Larkfield, Leybourne, Mereworth, Offham, Ryarsh, Trottiscliffe, West Malling
Support service for elderly to close
MALLING Age Concern Centre will close at the end of this month, trustees have told clients. The charity advised Kent County Council (KCC) of financial difficulties some months ago, and KCC staff were working with the centre to find ways to keep it open.
The closure, on May 31, will lead to the loss of day care help for older people. KCC and MAC centre staff say they are now working with each client to find a suitable alternative provision, where their needs can be met.
The centre, like many council services, has been struggling to cope with rising costs and falling income. County councillor Trudy Dean understands that a potential merger with nearby Age UK organisations was halted when the financial situation at MAC became clear.
The centre is a registered charity and its private financial affairs are not fully open to Kent County Council, which provides grant support. As a result, it is not known whether there are outstanding debts, or who is now responsible for sorting out its insolvency.
Cllr Dean said: “I understand that KCC has provided extra
money to ensure all staff costs are paid until the closure at the end of May. “However, it has been clear for some time that MAC was struggling financially, and were looking for bigger premises to enable them to work with a larger number of clients. Clients were also being brought to the centre increasingly from further afield, requiring the use of more adapted vehicles, and higher transport costs according to their published accounts. “At the same time, government cuts to Kent County Council meant there was less money to pass on, and MAC, like all other centres of its type, suffered a grant reduction of 1.4% this year, amounting to around £2,000.”
Councillors say the underlying problem is that governments over many years have failed to provide enough funds for care for the elderly.
The Local Government Association estimates there is a minimum shortfall of £2 billion nationally over what is needed. Lengthy consultation on how to pay for elderly care began a few years ago, and a decision has been expected ever since. A major Green Paper setting out government plans was expected in April 2017 and has been delayed several times.
A Malling Action Partnership publication
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