A POLITICAL row has erupted after revelations that Swindon Council is the fourth highest charging council for its meals on wheels service.

According to a national survey by the Labour Party, the authority charges £5 for a hot meal – £1.56 more for its service than the national average of £3.44.

Since April 2010, Swindon Council has increased its cost to the elderly for hot meals, through its meals on wheels service, by 26.5 per cent, according to Labour.

Swindon Council’s Labour group leader Coun Jim Grant said: “What these statistics show is that other councils are prioritising their elderly above Swindon’s Tory-led council.

“With the Tory-led Government imposing funding cuts to local councils, it comes as no surprise that councils like the one here in Swindon are having to make cuts.

“However while other councils are cutting back on consultants, hospitality and public relations budgets, Swindon’s Tory-led council appears to be cutting back on subsidies to the elderly and the vulnerable.

“The meals on wheels service is a lifeline to many elderly residents across the town, many of whom are severely disabled, live alone or are widows.

“With Swindon Council increasing its meals on wheels charges by 26 per cent in less than two years, this service may not become affordable to these vulnerable people.

“If Labour takes control of the council in May we would seek to reprioritise services that help the elderly and the vulnerable over council consultants, hospitality and PR budgets.”

The Conservative administration said the charge per meal increased by 2.5 per cent in 2009/10 and then by 23.5 per cent in 2010/11 after the meals subsidy was removed in Swindon.

The administration said there had been no increase in fee since April 2010 and the fees and charges for 2010/11 were based on the fact that in the south west a number of local authorities no longer provide a subsidised meals service, offering only a referral/sign posting service.

Council leader Rod Bluh said: “The Labour Party has failed to understand how we provide services to the borough’s most vulnerable and their obsession only with votes will put people at risk.

“Their lack of understanding about the financial implications and engagement with the council about addressing it is alarming.

“We use outside expertise to provide knowledge where the council does not possess it. The award-winning Swindon LIFE programme, which is helping some of our most deprived families out of being dependent forever on the state, is one of these.

“Labour’s vision for Swindon is a bleak one. Families will be trapped in poverty and chaotic lives costing the tax-payer millions because the LIFE programme will be scrapped. Roads will not be improved because we will not be able to use professional consultants.

“Major projects will not happen, such as the central library, which was built on time and on budget thanks to a skilled consultant as project manager.

“However, no one will hear about it because the Labour Party will have made redundant the few remaining communication staff who might have mentioned it.”