The local needs of East Renfrewshire must be considered if a planned National Care Service goes ahead, the council has told the Scottish Government.
Councillors have agreed a response to a consultation, launched by the government in August, which follows a review of adult social care.
There was cross-party support for retaining “local accountability”, and some opposition councillors voiced their concerns over the ‘centralisation’ of social care services.
The response calls for funding granted to councils to be increased as it believes improvements will be made “more quickly and effectively” that way.
East Renfrewshire Council believes that the best health and social care services need local leadership and democratic accountability underpinned by “coherent” national policy.
The response was put together following a cross-party meeting of councillors in September. It was approved at a full council meeting last Thursday.
Cllr Stewart Miller, independent, said: “The question has to be, since this was a manifesto commitment by the Nats are they not duty bound to carry this through and, assisted by their odious Green poodles, force their nationalisation plans for social work or can they renege on their manifesto commitment?”
In response, council leader Tony Buchanan, SNP, said: “I’m not sure where Stewart’s comments come from, there is a consultation ongoing and that is what we’re responding to.
“The outcome of that consultation, there may well be a National Care Service, but what it actually does and how the services are delivered within that is the key aspect.
“The proposals will have a significant impact on local government, local democratic accountability and our staff and service users. This response is measured in its response to that part of the consultation.”
He added the response “captures cross-party consensus” and the message that “local accountability is vital”.
“There may be aspects that can sit at a national level, but it is clear that local authorities, and local members, arguing the case for local outcomes is the best way forward for the service.”
A National Care Service would cover social care services currently delegated by the council to the area’s integration joint board — a partnership between the council and the NHS.
It is proposed the joint board would become a community health and social care board, which would be funded directly by the Scottish Government.
Cllr Gordon Wallace, Conservative, said: “We are in the lead up to council elections next year and for the SNP to take an approach in which all our care services should be centralised would pretty much work against them I would think.
“My concern is that we will not hear the results of this consultation until after these elections. We will not find out until after the elections that the care services will be centralised, despite all the reservations we have. I hope that is not the case.”
Cllr Annette Ireland, SNP, added it was important the response “states it is critical to recognise the role of local choice, local governance and local accountability in a democratic society”.
“I do think there is a case to be made for a National Care Service, especially in relation to national standards of pay and conditions. Social care workers historically have suffered very poor levels of pay and conditions. A National Care Service might be a mechanism to address this issue.”
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