With 12 votes against and 11 in favor, the municipal council of Midden-Drenthe has rejected the council’s proposal to re-indicate all existing indications for domestic help for an indefinite period. The estimated costs of 153,000 euros were a stumbling block, as was the unrest that has arisen among this vulnerable target group.
The Christian Union, CDA, Gemeentebelangen Midden-Drenthe/BBB and the VVD voted against.
Regulation
From January 1, 2024, the Domestic Support indication will be based on the new Wmo regulation. This ordinance was adopted by the municipal council on January 25, 2024 and will take effect from January 1, 2024. The original proposal was to re-indicate all existing 1107 indications. That number was reduced to 480 in the council’s second proposal; these people all have an indication for an indefinite period.
Anxious
Hetty Meijering (GMD/BBB) was immediately clear in her first term: “This is not what I want as a councilor.” She specifically addressed the uncertain feelings that those seeking help, but also those giving help, have. People are afraid of losing their help. Ageet van Dijken (Christian Union) also agrees with this and believes that this vulnerable group of people deserves to be protected. Arjan van Gelderen (VVD) wants to be a reliable government and therefore believes that re-designating this target group is unnecessary.
Standards framework
Egbert Kraal (CDA) has no objections to the new standards framework nor to the re-indication itself. To re-evaluate all 480 people, external hiring will be required at a cost of 153,000 euros. The fact that, according to the council, there is now a legal inequality is no reason for the CDA to spend 153,000 euros on this: “On balance, we are therefore against it.”
Appropriate help
Councilor Rieja Raven defended the proposal to re-indicate precisely this group of clients: “We do this to see whether the current help is still appropriate because the goal is to get appropriate help in the right place.” Ultimately, her plea did not help and the council’s proposal was narrowly voted down. This means that nothing will change for WMO clients, who have an indication for household support for an indefinite period. All other existing indications will be re-indicated in due course in accordance with the new framework of standards.
Tags: MiddenDrenthe Council puts reinstatement existing household contracts indefinite period
