Fixing care is the only way to end Reading Borough Council’s funding doom loop

With just a week to go until polling day, Liberal Democrat Councillor Meri O’Connell has warned that the spiralling cost of social care is leaving Reading Borough Council “struggling to do the basics”.

Total spending on social care by local authorities reached a record £29.3bn in 2024/2025, up by £12.4bn since 2015/16. This means social care now accounts for up to 80 per cent of council budgets, which have already had to make vast cuts to other council services.

Councillor O’Connell has now warned that any further cuts to social care funding could be “the point of no return” for the sector, and urged the Government to intervene, with new investment to relieve councils, tackle carer vacancies, and offer free personal care to those currently suffering without support. The party has argued that new investment in social care, including helping more people leave the hospital, could end the A&E crisis and corridor care within a year, and save money on expensive hospital stays.

Councillor O’Connell also called on the Government to finish its commission on social care, which is currently scheduled to be completed in three years, with reforms reportedly potentially not in place until 2036.

Public satisfaction with social care is at 13 per cent, and dissatisfaction is nearly 50 per cent, research by the King's Fund has found.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Councillor Meri O’Connell said:

“Reading Borough Council is being stretched to breaking point by spiralling social care costs, and that means they don’t have the money to fix potholes or keep local services running properly.

“This social care crisis is the elephant in the room at these local elections. No other party is talking about it.

“The Liberal Democrats will fix social care, making sure vulnerable people get the care they need while freeing up councils to focus on filling potholes, cleaning streets and improving  local services.”