INDEPENDENT nursing homes will receive an increase of £370,000 in fees from Darlington Borough Council during the coming year.
The increase, which follows one in April, was agreed at yesterday's meeting of the council's cabinet.
The decision was taken to increase fees after the Darlington Independent Sector Providers' Group (ISPG) revealed how their members' running costs had risen above the rate of inflation.
Overheads rose due to the increases in the minimum wage and the price of recruitment and retaining workers, especially nurses, and new working time regulations.
An earlier proposed increase in fees was rejected by the ISPG, leading to months of negotiations between the group and the council.
The ISPG has agreed to the latest proposals, provided that further negotiations take place about 2003/4 fee levels.
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