Councils 'were close' to dumping the BCF

摘要

The Local Government Association (LGA) considered walking away from the Better Care Fund (BCF) programme, its chief executive has admitted. Giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) this week after one of the most highly critical reports ever published by the National Audit Office, Carolyn Downs said the move was considered after the Government -unhappy at the quality of the plans - overhauled the entire process and demanded the resubmission of every BCF plan. Committee chair Margaret Hodge had suggested that local government would have been entitled to walk away from the process due to the rule changes this summer shifting the burden and risk onto councils. Ms Downs said the LGA's belief in health and social care integration had persuaded it to remain committed.