PROPOSALS to save £1m from the annual cost of running a community alarm service will be outlined next week.

The future of Care Connect, a round-the-clock alarm monitoring service for thousands of older and vulnerable people, will be discussed by Durham County Council.

The authority’s ruling cabinet will be asked to vote on a number of proposed savings when it meets at Durham Town Hall on Wednesday (Dec 18).

Among the proposed changes are reducing the frequency of customer assessments from four time a year to just once, as well as efficiency savings such as vehicle sharing and a review of telephone costs.

Coun Eddie Tomlinson, Cabinet member for housing and rural issues, said: "A review of the Care Connect service identified a number of savings that could be made through changes to our general ways of working.

"However, more fundamental changes to the way the service is delivered are needed in order to make the savings required as a result of the current budget pressures.

"We are considering options as to how to maintain the high level of service customers currently receive without reducing the core of the service – the ability to respond to vulnerable needs."

At present, 13,400 County Durham households receive free Care Connect, while another 4,700 private customers pay for the service.