Older people funding confirmed but Councillor wants tax rebate for pensioners

Rochdale Council has confirmed that funding will be available for the Government's Partnerships for Older People Project (POPPs) for the next three years but a leading Labour Councillor believes pensioners should be getting more financial help.

The Council voted down Labour proposals to give older people a council tax rebate at the budget meeting on Wednesday night (25 February).

Councillor Maureen Rowbotham, the labour party spokesperson for older people, said: "I find it disgusting that the liberal democrats can sit in their ivory towers in Rochdale Town hall and not listen to what our pensioners are saying.

"Pensioners are on fixed incomes and any reduction in the council tax and any limit on the council tax increase would have been welcomed.

"The increase forced through by the liberal democrats on Wednesday night is taking much need money from the pockets of our pensioners when they need it most.

"I do not know how they can sleep at night, let alone how they can have the cheek to knock on the doors of pensioners and ask them ever to vote for them again."

Meanwhile the Council is pressing ahead with its POPPs model, which has recently received national recognition for its achievements in reaching out to older people who are struggling to stay independent and has been selected as a model that other POPPs projects will be compared against.

Cabinet Member for Older People, Councillor Pauline Maguire said: “The Council has agreed to fund the POPPs project as submitted in the investment option proposals. This funding, which represents 50% of the total, is secure. We are looking for match funding from the PCT, and will know whether this is confirmed by next month.

"When we know the full extent of joint funding, we will draw up an implementation plan which will set out the intended projects and outcomes for the service, in line with the investment options report. At the very least this will include the continuation of the POPPs outreach service which has now visited and supported over 2,400 older people in the borough.”

“I am absolutely delighted with the success of POPPs so far and since August we have commissioned 31 new services including IT classes, carer’s supports groups and a volunteer driver scheme. Now that this funding has been passed through council we will look into developing POPPs even further over the next few years."