Spend cash on care not council magazine, says campaigner (From Hereford Times)

Spend cash on care not council magazine, says campaigner

1:00pm Friday 3rd August 2012 in County By Mark Bowen

A DISABILITY campaigner believes cash spent on a Herefordshire Council magazine should be used to avoid cuts to volunteer carers.

Sylvie Nicholls believes money spent on producing Herefordshire Matters would be better spent helping family carers who are currently threatened with charges for the respite help they receive.

In February 2010, the Hereford Times revealed the gross annual cost of Herefordshire Matters was £75,000.

Sylvie, the chairman of Herefordshire Disability United, said: “It is a luxury we could do without.”

The council is currently proposing to charge all carers with assets valued at £23,500 up to £20 an hour for respite care.

At a meeting on Tuesday at Hinton Community Centre, Councillor Nick Nenadich, cabinet support team member for adult social care, said: “The nation cannot afford to do everything so it’s coming down to the stark reality of choices.”