MILLIONS of pounds will be invested in the Royal Borough’s adult social care and children’s services – but the opposition fears the proposals are “up in the air”.

The council’s draft 2022/23 budget was published last month, which outlines a two per cent council tax rise, with a one per cent rise in the adult social care precept, as well as new investments into services and projects.

Children’s services, such as the edge of care, will see an increased £3m investment as part of a £10m boost over the next five years, while adult social care is currently being transformed and the council is looking at delivering it differently by using community and voluntary groups as well as utilising technology.

The council’s contingency fund – called the demographic growth fund – is to be increased to £1.5m to deal with spikes in demand as a consequence of the pandemic, with issues such as mental health, domestic abuse, etc.

READ MORE: Council tax set to go up by three per cent in Windsor

Care packages will become the ‘right size’ for people by allowing the individual to pick the menu and the council will try to accommodate their care needs and requirements. The council is eyeing up reducing agency spend and investing instead into retaining and recruiting staff.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, councillor Stuart Carroll (Con: Boyn Hill), lead member for adult social care and children’s services, called the proposals “incredibly positive” and the draft budget a “peoples’ budget”.

He said the investments and transformation will “empower” the community and allow people to live an independent and active life.

Cllr Stuart Carroll, lead member for adult social care and childrens services

Cllr Stuart Carroll, lead member for adult social care and children's services

Cllr Carroll said: “I’m not going to deny the fact that having a strong and empowered community is a positive thing and where we can involve the community more in the business of the council, that is a good thing and where we can leverage the input of residents more, we should look to do that.

“That’s not the case of passing it over, it’s a case of wanting to do that in the spirit of partnership and joining things up.”

Cllr Amy Tisi, shadow member for adult social care and childrens services

Cllr Amy Tisi, shadow member for adult social care and children's services

However, shadow member for adults and children, councillor Amy Tisi (Lib Dem: Clewer East) said the impact of the proposals is “up in the air” as it could change if the estimated £3m government grant is not forthcoming in full.

She said: “I worry they [the Tories] put transformation into the budget before they’ve done it. If they are going to transform, they should do the transformation, give it time to see how it works, and then put the savings in next year’s budget or do them as in-year savings rather than doing it when it is untested and using the transformation to find those savings because they don’t know how it’s going to work.

“Transformation is not a bad idea but having it driven by the need for savings is not the right thing to do.”

READ MORE: Reduced government grant could see Windsor & Maidenhead service cuts

Cllr Carroll pledged critical services would not be impacted if the council does not receive the government grant in full.

With the draft budget being published very early and going out for consultation to gather views from residents, Cllr Carroll said the opposition has “no excuse” not to propose alternative suggestions.

But Cllr Tisi said even with the early release, there is not a “huge amount of time” for them and council officers to draft an entire shadow budget, and offering small amendments is not going to change the overall position.

She said: “Almost by saying to us ‘come on then, give us your amendments,’ they [the Conservatives] are submitting their budget isn’t very good. It is their budget, and they need to own it.”