The councillor who chairs the county council’s committee responsible for social care has criticised the government's decision to delay reform in the sector.  

Richard Howitt, a Labour councillor and chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Adults and Health Committee, has spoken out following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement yesterday. 

He says the Conservatives have ‘pushed the issue in to the long grass again’ by pushing back social care reform by another two years.  

Cllr Howitt said: “So 11 years after the Dilnot Report set up by the Tory government in its first year of office said the system of social care was broken and needed fixing, this Tory government has pushed it in to the long grass again.   

“At least they are being honest that Boris Johnson’s claim to have ‘fixed’ social care was wrong.  

“But they’ve given little indication what will happen in the next two years to change this.”

The plan was due to be rolled out in October next year – but is now sent to happen in 2025, after the next general election. 

The Dilnot Report, led by Sir Andrew Dilnot, published its findings in 2011 and recommended a massive shake up in the way families pay for their loved ones’ care.  

The changes included an £86,000 cap on personal care cost contributions, and an expanded means test that is more generous than the existing one.  

While the Chancellor told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the delay ‘was a source of great regret’ to him, it means more funding will be allocated to local authorities.  

He said: “This two year delay means we can increase funding available to local authorities by £4.7 billion and that it is the biggest increase we have ever had in social care.  

“It means 200,000 more care packages for our most vulnerable citizens and that will help everyone because sometimes those people end up being stuck in hospital. 

“They can’t get home because they do not have a social care package and that therefore delays someone’s operation if they are one of the seven million waiting for their NHS operation. 

“So I decided this was necessary to help the NHS get out of a very difficult situation...”  

But Cllr Howitt has also questioned whether billions the Chancellor has allocated will ever reach local authorities, like Cambridgeshire County Council.  

He added: “It is also possible that Cambridgeshire County Council will receive less money for social care from Government, if the planned money for reform is withdrawn, at a time when adult social care is under unprecedented pressures.    

“It is also not clear that future money promised will go to local authorities, rather than the NHS. The Government should fund both adequately, not pit one against the other.    

“They have also raised expectations amongst social care providers and those who fund their own care, who will now suffer the consequences.    

“Above all, this delay means that the Conservatives do not have the will to put adult social care on to a long-term footing and it will be left to the next Labour Government to do so.”    

Cllr Howitt represents the Petersfield division in Cambridge. He is also Deputy Leader of the Labour Group.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.