Radical plans which include raising social services charges plus levying entirely new ones could generate as much as £1 million to boost flagging coffers.

The scheme is being put to consultation over the next three months and, if agreed in its present form, could bring in much-needed cash for social services.

Already, councillors have voted to squeeze an extra £16,000 by increasing the price of meals on wheels by five pence and raising the maximum hourly charge for home care by 20 pence.

Now they are asking for feedback from users, carers and the voluntary sector on the best ways to make further savings.

Some of the more extreme proposals include:

l A flat daily charge of up to £15 for each of the 480 adults who receive day care at one of the council's own centres.

l Doubling the weekly service charge for 232 special sheltered flats from £47.15 to £103.

l Reducing the capital ceiling of £8,000 that users can hold before they pay the full cost for personal care.

Chairman of social services, Councillor Wally Garratt, said: "We are faced with a very difficult choice of having to adjust charges so that there is more money to finance these services or risk having to reduce the level of services because of lack of funds.

"It is therefore vital that those involved in the consultation make their views known."

His opposition counterpart, Conservative spokesman on social services, Councillor Margaret Mead, told the Guardian: "We support the consultation but if these increases are imposed they will be the highest ever that this council has seen."

Whatever the final form of the new structure, it should come into place next April.

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