Fair charging scheme considered for alarm system

Release Date:  22-Aug-2007

Bristol City Council is asking residents who receive a community alarm service for their views on the introduction of a service charge for those who can afford to pay, bringing the city’s arrangements in line with most other areas of the UK.

The Piper Life Line is currently free of charge to all people in Bristol assessed as ‘in need’ by the council’s Adult Community Care department, although council housing tenants with lower levels of need across the city who receive the service already pay a similar service charge.

The Life Line is an emergency alarm linked to a central control centre, which is operated by pressing a telephone button or a small transmitter attached to the user’s clothing. Around 2,500 people receiving support from Adult Community Care in Bristol are currently linked to the service.

The proposal, which is the subject of a consultation launched this week, is to introduce a maximum charge of £3.50 a week to cover the cost of the equipment and the monitoring service. There would also be a one-off charge for the installation of equipment for new users of the community alarm service.

Service users would continue to need to have to have a telephone line and be responsible for line rental and telephone call costs, as they do at present.

There will be a process to determine who should pay the full weekly charge, and who will need a financial assessment in order to decide whether they should pay the full rate, a reduced rate or continue to receive a free service. This would involve asking service users for some information about their financial situation.

Councillors agreed the move in principle last February when they voted in this year’s budget, which included the proposal to introduce a charge ‘in line with Neighbourhood and Housing Services policy and other authorities providing the same services’

Around 4,500 older and disabled tenants who sign up for a similar service through the council's Neighbourhood and Housing Services department already pay the £3.50-a-week charge. Most local authority Adult Community Care services across the UK have charged for their equivalent of the service for many years.

Annie Hudson, Director of Adult Community Care, said: “We will be talking to a wide range of groups who represent the interests of older people to explain how the proposal can help us maintain and potentially expand all our services for older and disabled people in future. We will be listening carefully to their views, as we are determined to ensure that any changes are fair and sensitive to the needs of those who are most vulnerable. We would also like to hear from everyone who currently receives this service. No decision will be taken until all feedback has been received and evaluated.”

A postal and phone consultation with users will run for six weeks followed by further discussions with interest groups. The results of the consultation will be collated in October with a final decision to be taken by the council towards the end of the year. Anyone wishing to discuss the proposals will shortly be able to call a special hotline on 0117 903 7175 during office hours (this service will be available from Thursday, August 23rd). You can also email: charging.consultation@bristol.gov.uk

Author:  Simon Caplan/Peter Wood

For all media enquiries relating to this press release, please contact Corporate Communications on 0117 922 2650.

To link to this page directly, use the URL
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect?oid=PressRelease-id-19541040

Subscribe to our free email bulletin service and get the latest news and information about consultations and events happening in the city - www.bristol.gov.uk/newsdirect