COUNCILS across the capital and in Surrey are facing the prospect of hiking council tax as the social care crisis deepens.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents 370 councils across England and Wales, warned last week the Government’s Care Act was doomed to fail unless more money was allocated to the social care sector.

In a statement, the LGA said: “Continued underfunding of social care is making it impossible for local authorities to fulfil their legal duties under the Care Act.

“This could leave the system on the brink of failing altogether and councils facing the prospect of court challenges.”

A poll conducted by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services found that just eight per cent of directors of adult social care in councils were confident they could meet the full duties of the Care Act in the coming financial year.

Arguably the biggest crisis in the country is faced by Surrey County Council (SCC), which voted against increasing council tax by 15 per cent thus avoiding holding a county-wide referendum which would have been held on May 4.

Surrey Conservatives cited government cuts of £170million since 2010 and demand for adult social care, learning disabilities and children’s services increasing year on year.

The crisis has also forced Merton Council to raise tax by three per cent, while Croydon anticipates it will increase it by two per cent.

Kingston Council announced on January 23 tax is set to rise by almost five per cent, which is more than three times the rate of inflation.

Bromley has anticipated an increase of 3.99 per cent –1.99 per cent plus a two per cent precept – while Richmond and Bexley Councils have bemoaned the combination of falling central Government funding and increased demand for social care.

Wandsworth, Sutton, Greenwich, Lewisham are yet to announce whether council tax will rise.

The LGA also said a growing number of people in need of social care could be left stranded in hospitals because of “continued underfunding”,

Meanwhile, the number of people who had “unmet basic needs” such as getting washed, dressed or out of bed could also rise, the LGA said.

Those who got care could face shorter visits from strained carers, it said.

In its submission to the Treasury ahead of the Budget, the LGA said that if new money was not ploughed into the social care sector then ministers needed to be “honest and up front” with the public about the level of care that could be provided.

A Government spokeswoman said: “Local Authorities have a duty to implement new rights introduced in the Care Act and, while many are already providing high-quality social care services, we will continue to challenge and support those not currently doing so.

“We have provided councils with up to £7.6billion of dedicated funding for social care over the course of this parliament – significant investment to ensure that vulnerable people get affordable and dignified care as our population ages.”

Izzi Seccombe, chairwoman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: “The intentions and the spirit of the Care Act are in grave danger of falling apart and failing unless new funding is announced by government for adult social care.

“It is not good enough just to be trying to help someone get washed and dressed. Adult social care is about much more than this.

“It is about aspiring to help people live their lives to the fullest, and with dignity, not simply just get by.

“This is the great strength of the Care Act, which unfortunately is now at risk.

“If no new money is urgently announced, then government needs to be honest and upfront with the public about the limitations of the care and support we can provide, and the fact that as a society we will no longer be able to meet the ambitions and objectives of the Care Act.”

Janet Morrison, chief executive of the charity Independent Age, said: “The social care system is chronically underfunded, and this continues to undermine implementation of the Care Act.

“The impact of this failure falls on older and disabled people, who can be left without any assistance to carry out day-to-day tasks such as washing or going to the

toilet.

“Last year, we saw record numbers of people stuck in hospital when they were well enough to leave, because of a failure to put an appropriate care package in place.

“With councils seemingly failing to meet their requirements under the Care Act, the Government needs to find a long-term solution on social care funding that all parties can support.”