Borough councillors have claimed cuts made by their counterparts at Kent County Council are putting sheltered housing services for 550 people at risk.

The leader of the opposition at Dartford Borough Council is worried elderly residents at council-run properties are not getting the level of support they need.

This comes after Kent County Council chose not to renew contracts worth £2.8m for sheltered housing and community alarms across the county.

These KCC grants helped bankroll 14 supported-housing schemes managed by Dartford Borough Council, which caters for people aged over 55.

However since the contract expired on April 1, adjustments have been made to the management of these facilities.

Staff at the sheltered accommodation are being instructed to focus on needs of individual tenants rather than a “one-size-fits-all service”.

Council officers will receive extra training to take on housing management

duties that include making sure tenants pay rent on time, inspection and maintenance as well as helping with benefit claims.

The plans for the housing-related support service were presented at the borough council’s cabinet meeting on Thursday (April 12).

After the meeting, Cllr Jonathon Hawkes (Lab) said: “This is yet another example of cuts to funding of services for the people who need them most.

“Labour have raised concerns that Dartford council is now being asked to provide the same service, without the same funding.

“We are seeking assurances that the extra workload being put on council officers will not lead to any reduction to the support our elderly residents receive.

“Offering opt-in and opt-out choices to vulnerable residents always needs to be managed carefully and we will be reminding the Conservatives that all elderly residents need to have continued access to support from the council.”

The 485 supported units are now financed through housing benefits.

Those not eligible for financial aid will be charged £6 less per week - reducing from £18.19 to £12.29.

Dartford Borough Council spokesman Adrian Gowan said the council is "confident" there are enough resources for this to work.

He added this new approach would be "more sensible" as officers will have more time "to focus on those that need it most rather than assume that everyone’s needs are the same and unchanging".

KCC spokesman David L Gazet said it had made a decision to end the grant as the borough council was receiving a duplication of funding.

He said : “The assistance provided to residents under these contracts is eligible to be paid via housing benefit and therefore the council made the decision to end this duplication and allow its contracts to come to their natural end at the end of the month.

“The council will continue to meet its obligations under the Care Act and ensure that every resident over the age of 18 can have a social care assessment and that any assessed, eligible need will be met."