VULNERABLE people being cared for by a social services department were systematically overcharged to the tune of more than £100,000, a report has revealed.
The so-called “special charging policy” was applied at three locations in Wirral – but nowhere else in the borough.
Fifteen people were overcharged a total of £116,000, with the sums ranging from “a few hundred pounds to over £15,000”.
The long-awaited report, which will be presented to a special council meeting next Wednesday, admits the charges to those in “supported living” accommod-ation were unlawful.
It says the “special charging policy” was applied at Bermuda Road, Curlew Way and Edgehill Road, all in Moreton, between 1997 and 2006 – but not at other establishments.
It said: “Until April, 2003, the charges levied were, on balance, probably reasonable and lawful.
“However, between April, 2003, when fairer charging should have been brought in, and February, 2006, when fairer charging was actually introduced at ‘in-house’ supporting living units in Wirral, the charges were probably unreasonable, so far as the charges exceeded what would have been levied under fairer charging.
“To that extent, the charges levied were also unlawful.”
Wirral Council’s internal audit report also acknowledges no evidence could be found that the policy had been approved by councillors until the final week of completing the document.
