THE cost of home care provided by a local authority to disabled, chronically sick and disabled East Lancashire residents could rise in a charging review.

The increase would affect recipients in Burnley, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Pendle, Rossendale and Chorley.

The review of non-residential care charges, the first since 2011, will be discussed by Lancashire County Council’s cabinet on Thursday.

The services (which include home care, outreach services, day care, direct payments and personal budgets, supported living, and the Shared Lives Scheme) are to help recipients to live independently.

The new charges ,aimed at saving £2.9million a year, a consultation will begin next month with a view to introducing the new charges in April.

Cllr Graham Gooch, community services boss, said: “The rates we currently charge are based on 2011 figures and costs have risen by more than 14 per cent. Given the county council’s current financial position this situation can’t continue.

“Under these proposals people would only be charged according to their ability to pay for their non-residential care.

“Inevitably some people would have to pay more, but most people would not see a significant increase in care costs most will see an increase in care charges of less than £20 per week.”

He added: “”Of the 5,694 people paying for non-residential care services, 92% will see an increase in care charges of less than £20 per week. For more than 4,000 people, this increase would be less than £10 a week.

“The proposed charging policy is consistent with those introduced by other councils across the country and is in line with the guidelines set out by central government in The Care Act 2014.”