A CONSULTATION on plans to cut the cost of adult social care to save the county council £1.5 million has launched.

Members of the public are being asked for their views on Hampshire County Council's proposals, which could affect around 12,000 people in the county and are part of the authority's plans to save £43.1m in adult social care by 2018.

The consultation opened on June 15, and closes on Friday, August 26.

Proposed changes are:

-Charging people for the cost of both of their carers, if they need two carers during a home care visit

-Taking into account 100 per cent of a person's disposable income rather than 95 per cent, when a financial assessment is carried out to establish how much they can afford to contribute towards the cost of their care

-Charging residents in council-run residential and nursing homes for periods of absence

-Taking into account income a person receives from letting out their own home when assessing how much they should pay towards their care costs in a residential or nursing home.

Councillor Liz Fairhurst, the council's executive member for adult social care, said: "The county council's funding from central Government has roughly halved in recent years, and with ongoing reductions, the county council is having to make some very difficult decisions about the services we provide and the way we do business.

"This is requiring us to look at how to deliver services in new and different ways, and to charge for services in a way that is appropriate and fair to help offset some of the cost of providing support to a growing population of older people and adults with complex care needs.

"It is important that the public and those who use the county council's adult social care support services are asked for their views, and I would encourage as many people as possible to take part."

Those who are assessed as being unable to afford to contribute anything towards their care will continue to receive care for free.

Currently, around 44 per cent of clients have their care and support at home paid for in full by the county council, 43 per cent make a partial contribution and 13 per cent pay for their care in full.

The County Council must find savings in adult social care of £43.1 million by 2018.

For more information visit hants.gov.uk/pfc-consultation.