Fears that meals on wheels price rise could put users off

In plans due to be debated yesterday (Thursday) by Warwickshire County Council’s cabinet committee, the cost of having a meal delivered could rise from £4 to £4.25 after an increase last June from £3.50.

According to Labour councillors, this could cost elderly people who have three meals a day delivered £15.75 a week.

Cllr Penny Bould, vice-chairman of the authority’s adult social care and health overview and scrutiny committee, said: “It’s a shocking 25p rise less than a year after a 50p increase which we strongly opposed.

“Ordering 21 meals will cost £89.25 and that’s a hell of a bite out of a pension or disability benefits. Excluding any housing and council tax benefit that could be over 60 per cent of a pensioner’s income.”

A report to cabinet members states that one reason for the increase is that the number of people using meals on wheels is lower than forecast.

It recommends increasing the cost, and sharing proceeds between the council and its contractor, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Community Enterprise Foods, to cut subsidy and boost income.

But the report recommends keeping delivery times to a narrow period of between 11.30am and 2.15pm, and not to deliver frozen meals. It also underlines the value of the welfare check, help and contact the delivery person can provide.

Cllr Bould is worried some people will be put off by the increase and go without these. She added: “I am worried some people will cut back on meals or find paying for essential things like gas and electric let alone clothing and transport or treats even harder or impossible”.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, who is responsible for adult social care, said the proposal had followed consultation among users, which included frozen meals and charging the full price of £5.50.

Cllr Seccombe (Con, Stour and the Vale) disputed the Labour figures, saying most customers ordered one meal a day, adding that providers had almost doubled uptake since taking on the service.