Specialist dementia facility confirmed among £15m of Lancashire investments

A Lancashire County Council leader has credited strong financial management as central to the securing of a new programme of investments, which includes the creation of a £5m centre of excellence for people with dementia.

Construction of the new build facility will go ahead despite a reduction in funding from central government. According to the council this is thanks to a three-year savings programme that has seen council tax reduced alongside a reliance on management and administration.

Councillor Geoff Driver explains: “It has been a tough period for local government and there are even more difficult times ahead, but people across Lancashire are having a difficult time financially too and we want to do what we can to help.

“The county council has managed its finances very well despite huge reductions in funding and that has put us in a strong enough position to cut council tax while announcing new investments and continuing to make savings.

“The overall effect of our position on council tax over the last 4 years, if you compare it to what would have happened had we increased tax within the Government’s ceiling limits each year, will be to put £100m back in people's pockets to spend in the local economy.”

On the new centre of excellence, Mr Driver comments: “We're investing in dementia services because it is vital people who are unfortunate enough to suffer dementia, and their families, get the care and support they deserve in what can be an extremely distressing situation.

“The full range of investments shows that even under significant financial pressure the county council can and will make a tremendous difference to many people’s lives.”

The investment also takes onboard the staffing of the facility, with £250,000 allocated to train employees in the challenges of dementia care.