ANGRY old folk gathered outside Bury Town Hall in a protest over care home funding.
The demonstration was organised by Bury Care Providers Action Group -- made up of independent care home owners -- who mobilised their residents in what is becoming an increasingly bitter battle with the council.
The row centres on the amount of money Bury Council gives independent home-owners to care for elderly residents referred by social services.
Chairman of the action group, Mr Boyd Farrar, general manager of the "not-for-profit" Heathlands Village, said after Thursday's protest: "Our residents are really angry.
"Just because they are older does not mean they don't have an opinion.
"They are very anxious that unless we get a fair price from the council, some homes will disappear in the next few years."
The council has put together a three-year, above-inflation package which equates to a rise of 17.5 per cent.
Bury Council executive member for health and social services, Councillor Mike Connolly said: "The owners have been demanding a 40 per cent increase in fees.
"But that would have cost us £3 milllion, the equivalent of a six per cent increase in council tax.
"We do recognise our fees are low and we have some sympathy with the owners."
But he added: "We feel this is realistic in terms of what we can afford."
The action group, which represents 24 care providers in the borough, says the council currently pays £1.48 per hour to care for residents and that £2.04 per hour would be a "reasonable" figure -- that equates to around £350 a week rather than the £250 Bury pays.
Mr Farrar added: "We don't want to talk about percentages; we just want a fair rate for the job.
"The amount we receive now is not only unreasonable, it is less than Bury pays its own homes."
In a poster campaign, the action group holds up neighbouring Oldham -- where the council spends £300-plus on residential care -- as an example of a fair deal.
The disagreement will come to a head next week with the expiry of contracts which several homes have with the council.
Mr Farrar said: "Our members will continue to care for residents when those contracts expire on May 9, but we will be instigating legal moves."
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