New means-tested charges brought in by Southend social services could backfire on them after one pensioner found he could get private care cheaper - from one of the council's own contractors.

Michael Steed and his wife, Ann, have been offered the service at half the council's price by Highfield Homecare Services.

Mr Steed, 68, of Grange Park Drive, Leigh, said he is furious council bosses are demanding details of his bank accounts and he has told them he doesn't want their help any more.

He currently pays about £50 a month for a council-contracted carer to spend half an hour a day helping Mrs Steed, 67, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, to get up and dressed every morning.

Under the new rules, to be brought in on January 31, he claims he would probably have to pay the maximum £50 a week instead.

Now Southend-based Highfield Homecare Services has said it will care for Mrs Steed for about £24 a week - even though it continues to be a contractor for the council.

Mr Steed said: "We only have help for half an hour a day and it looks like I'm going to have to pay out the full amount for that.

"They are asking for all sorts of private information on my finances. And if you don't want to tell them then you have to pay the whole lot. It's disgusting."

Social services director Jane Held said: "We would be happy for people with a small package of care to purchase their own but we would prefer them not to until we could tell them how much the new charge would be.

"Highfield has the right to provide care to whoever it chooses even though they are one of our contractors."

Highfield boss Andrew Circus confirmed that they would be happy to provide private care and at a cheaper price than the council rates.

The new council charges, for home and day care, are calculated using a complex formula which takes into account the service provided, income, savings and equipment used.

The council needs to raise a total of £7.3 million from all charges to meet its gross £52.4 million budget target and reduced central government funding.

In October, the Labour and Lib Dem proposal was carried by just one vote by the council's social services committee before being accepted by the full council. New charges for meals and disabled badges were brought in on December 1.

Making a saving - Ann Steed's care bill will cost less if she cuts out the council and deals direct with its contractors

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

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