Cambridgeshire County Council is calling for a fairer deal on funding for adult social care services from Government.

The call comes ahead of further consultation on a national funding formula this month.

Over the next five years, the number of older residents living in shire counties is set to rise at an average of two per cent, compared to the national average of 1.8 per cent, placing potentially further strain on adult social care services.

Shire counties have also been subject to the largest reductions in estimated cash funding of any local authority type of over 20 per cent between 2013-16, despite having the fastest growing elderly population.

In total, shire counties received £1.98 billion less funding in 2015-16 compared to other types of local authorities.

Council leader, Councillor Steve Count said: “One of our top priorities is to ensure that we can improve outcomes and safe guard the health and wellbeing of vulnerable adults and their carers that need our adult social care services.

“Government needs to give Cambridgeshire a fair deal so we can use this extra funding to give those adults requiring our social care services the support and help they need.”

A fair deal could provide more services to support older people, adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs live safely in their own homes and in their local communities.