AN Essex County Council boss is leading criticism of a Government plan to offer free support to help residents live at home.

David Finch, County Hall’s cabinet member for adults, has written a letter signed by more than 70 of his counterparts nationwide calling for a review of the Government’s Personal Care at Home Bill.

The bill would give 400,000 people the help they need to live at home, rather than in a care institution.

But concerns have been raised over who would foot the bill amid fears it could result in cuts to existing council services.

Mr Finch, in a letter to a national newspaper, said: “We believe the Government has significantly under-estimated the likely numbers eligible for this support and also the likely cost of each care package.

“Research carried out by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services across 61 local authorities shows the average cost of care is about £200 per week, substantially greater than the £103 per week estimated by the Government.

“At this level, the cost to local authorities would amount to around £580million per annum as opposed to the £250million assumed in the proposals.

“Local authorities are already required to deliver four per cent efficiency savings next year and the savings needed to fund this policy would be on top of this.”

In the House of Commons yesterday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown was quizzed by opposition leader David Cameron about the bill, which is to be reviewed by the House of Lords later this month.

He said: “We have provided £420million from the NHS for social care for urgent needs. We are providing £250million from local authorities from efficiency savings.”