Enthusiasm 'high' for BCF

摘要

The new Better Care Fund (BCF) programme director has insisted council chief executives have not lost interest or enthusiasm for delivering the flagship policy. Speaking exclusively to The MJ Andrew Ridley said he was in regular contact with local authority bosses and 'did not detect any disconnect'. Alluding to new rules announced last month that experts fear could lead to councils losing out on £600m a year, Mr Ridley said: 'My sense is that they are enormously pragmatic about some of the changes we've been through this year. They still want it to be a success. 'It's a bold policy and it's about time. Does that mean it's risk free? No. 'The policy is extraordinarily visionary and really ambitious, and for many areas this is proving to be hard. We will do all we can to make sure it's a success. This is absolutely a government priority.'