TIME is running out to have a say on proposed changes to adult social care which could see users pay towards services.

In October, North Yorkshire County Council started a consultation on proposals about how people who use the services contribute to their costs.

The consultation closes on January 21 and people who have not given their views so far are being asked to do so over the coming weeks.

The consultation covers two main areas, the first being the cost of transport provided by adult social care to places where people receive a service – for example a day care centre.

And the second is how the total cost of care is calculated and the amount people may be asked to contribute in the future.

County Councillor Michael Harrison, executive member for adult social care and health integration, said: “In North Yorkshire, it’s crucial to us to support adult social care as much as possible.

“We have welcomed additional funding from the Government, we have raised additional council tax through the social care precept and we have protected budgets, as much as we can, to the point where social care is now nearly 45 per cent of all that we spend.

“However, given that adult social care is our largest budget – and we have other important commitments, to children and parents and to road users, for example – we still have had to make savings.

“We continue to lobby Government for a long-term sustainable solution to funding adult social care and look forward to the forthcoming Green Paper, and the next spending review, which we hope will set out the Government’s proposals.

“In the meantime, we must continue to look critically at how we spend taxpayers’ money and how it can be spent better.

“In February, county councillors approved the adult social care budget and agreed to look at reviewing our charging policy.

“We are now consulting about our proposals for changing the way we charge for some adult social care services and want as many people as possible to take part.

“Their views will be very important in the decision making process.

“If the decision is made to implement the proposals, the changes would not begin until April next year and we will also take steps to advise people on how they can claim other benefits and support to which they may be entitled.”

A consultation document that explains the proposals is available online at northyorks.gov.uk/current-consultations