CUMBRIA council bosses have refused to comment on speculation that ministers could give them more powers to put up council tax.

It has been suggested that prime minister Theresa May would allow local authorities to raise more money through council tax to plug the growing funding gap in social care.

However, a spokesman said Cumbria County Council was not willing to speculate on any potential changes to how it funds social care until the government confirmed any plans it has.

The proposed changes come as the care industry faces a mounting crisis on how it will pay for the record number of people needing care.

In the last 18 months the number of beds available has fallen, waiting times for home care has increased, and the cost for people needing care has rocketed.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, said the government must not pass the problem on to local authorities.

He said: "The fact that the government is considering forcing councils to increase council tax to fund social care is a long-overdue admission that social care in the UK is in the worst state it has ever been.

"At a time when our hospitals are already under pressure, beds are being taken up unnecessarily because people can't afford to move into the social care system.

"Instead of passing the buck to councils and hitting hard-working people through increases in council tax, the government should provide the funds the social care system needs."

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, agreed with Mr Farron that tax increases are not the solution.

He said: "While there is little doubt that funding social care in the long term is one of the biggest issues facing politicians, temporary hikes to council tax are not an adequate solution."

In Barrow, social care has recently seen two high-profile boosts in the provision of care.

The construction of a home in Greengate Street is finally nearing completion after years of delays. The 60-bedroom, £7m facility will offer care primarily for people living with dementia.

Plans have also been fleshed out for a new sheltered accommodation site in Roose Road. Construction will begin in the new year on the former site of St Luke's Church, which was demolished to make way for the development.

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