Social care and crisis costs leave councils on brink – The Yorkshire Post says

The worst of times continues to bring out the best in people, none more so than in this county’s rural heartlands where remoteness continues to provide challenges over the provision of key services.

Yet the remarkable response is testimony to the strength of the relationship between North Yorkshire County Council and its partners. All worthy of recognition in an area where social isolation was a key issue before the Covid-19 lockdown, they have all adapted their work to ensure help and support reaches the most vulnerable.

And now, as awareness grows about the impact of lockdown restrictions on older people in particular, charities – and others – are doubling down on their efforts to reach out to those who are finding this to be a particularly troubling time.

However people should not be afraid to ask for help – it is there – and will be available for the foreseeable future because of NYCC’s acceptance that it will still be some time before rural life returns to any semblance of normality.

Yet, while NYCC leader Carl Les is too polite to make political points at this time, his council – and, in all probability, every Yorkshire town hall – are providing this unprecedented response after a decade-long spending squeeze.

They have no reserves left to bridge the gap. Even balancing the books, a legal obligation, is said to be in doubt. Social care costs have left them on the brink. It’s that serious. And while the Government is reimbursing councils for some of their expenditure, significant shortfalls do remain amid suggestions of backtracking on the part of Ministers.

Now, more than ever, Ministers must recognise the value of all local councils before the most vulnerable lose out on help that could, for some, be all that stands between life and death.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

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James Mitchinson

Editor