Ex councillor angry at cut in mother's care as council propose to increase senior executive pay

Jean Ashworth with her mother, Mary Smith

Ex Rochdale councillor Jean Ashworth is angry at the plans to increase council executives pay after cuts were made to her mother's care.

Even though Jean is pleased with the care, she and her 87-year-old mother, Mary Smith, were recently told that care time would be cut and the price of the care would go up.

Jean said: “The staff who come in are marvellous but now we are paying more money for less time and that to me is scandalous.”

Before the planned cuts, Mary received care at home in the mornings and in the evenings.

During the morning visit staff would spend around twenty five minutes helping Mary get out of bed, get washed and dressed and give her breakfast.

Staff then return in the evening for fifteen minutes to make sure she is safe and ready for the evening. For this care, the family paid £50.48 a week.

Now staff time in the morning has been cut by ten minutes (reducing time to fifteen minutes) and by five minutes in the evening (reducing time to ten minutes) with the cost increasing to £71 a week. An extra £21 for less time.

Jean added: “My mother is one of the lucky ones because I go almost every day and so does my sister-in-law but what about the people who are on their own and look forward to that time?”

It was recently announced that senior executives at Rochdale Council would receive a massive pay rise despite cuts of £45m in services.

Jean said: “It isn’t fair when there are people struggling and using foodbanks. The job is about helping people, not about lining their pockets.”

CEO of RMBC, Jim Taylor is to receive a pay rise of £40,000 taking his salary to £170,000 per annum.

“I suppose it does put Jim Taylor in a difficult position and I can imagine it is hard to refuse a pay rise but he knew when he took this job that Rochdale was one of the lowest paying areas and he took the job with that knowledge,” added Jean.

“The job isn’t all about new buildings and pay rises. It is about care and the people who need supporting.

"I just hope the council will stand together so this can’t possibly go ahead,” said Jean.