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Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is to scrap a £4.40 flat rate for transport, entry and a meal at centres for OAPs and the disabled.
Instead, pensioners will be charged up to £58.90 a day with £114.50 for people with a physical disability and £54 for people with a learning disability.
The authority said in a report that this is the council’s average daily costs and new fees would be means tested.
Yet it admits a proposed £5 daily meal charge covers more than its own costs and would bring in extra cash. The meals cost it £3.50 and the move would net the council £42,150 extra a year.
A further charge for transport has yet to be decided.
The proposals have led to concerns that OAPs will be trapped in their own homes.
And the council said it could see its four day centres close but changes were needed as users are now given cash, known as personal budgets, to decide how to spend on their care.
If they choose to spend the cash elsewhere, then centres would be hit by a fall in demand and close as a result.
The council day centres for OAPs are Brookvale Day Centre, Olton; Greenhill Way Day Centre, Shirley; Oak Trees Day Centre, Balsall Common and Roundmead Day Centre, Chelmsley Wood.
It also uses Shepherdson Court in Damson Parkway and Michael Blanning Centre, Four Ashes, which would be subject to the changes.
People with a physical disability go to the Green Acres Disability Resource Centre in Wagon Lane, Solihull. This would not be affected by the meal plans.
Some who responded to a consultation warned the plans would increase “social isolation”, see more OAPs admitted to hospital and have an impact on carers if centres close.
And they said transport charges “would deter a significant number of service users from attending a day centre”.
Though no decisions have been made, the council said real transport costs must be considered - suggesting higher prices will be charged.
The council said day centre fees will be financially assessed. It said: “No client will be made to pay more than can be reasonably expected of them.
“In many cases clients will not be expected to make any contribution at all towards the cost of the care and support funded by their personal budget.”
Yet it admits the higher prices could see people attend the centres less with a “consequent additional pressures for carers”.
It rules out an alternative, £29.45 a day for OAPs and £27 and £57.25 for those with a learning disability and physical disability, as unaffordable for the council.
It says this will have a “significant financial impact” of £2m a year. The authority is having to cut £15.2m to live within its £148m budget this year.
It would also make it more difficult for other providers to compete, it says.
Also, carers will only get a £400 annual payment. About 70 presently get weekly payments and the move will save £85,000 a year.
Weekly allowances for about 50 disabled people for attending day centres will also end, saving £11,000 a year. No other council offers this.
All plans would save £354,700 this year and £608,000 next year, 2012/13.
The council said: “Councils across the country are facing tough times and have to make difficult decisions about the services they fund.
“In Solihull there is a commitment to protect care and support services whilst ensuring people continue to have real choice about available provision.
“Equally it is important to be realistic about the resources which are available including the contribution people pay and how much the council continues to subsidise services.”
It said: “In light of reduced central government funding services can only be protected by reducing the amount the Council subsidises services and/or adjusting the charges that are levied for services.”
Another report lays bare the problems facing aspects of adult social care, which is the council’s spending area.
It said savings are being made through staff not being replaced and “controls” on whether OAPs are put in homes.
Yet it says the lack of staff is “causing extreme difficulties”, there are “high levels” of sickness, and there is not enough services for people moving from one care setting to another.
It adds: “The way we currently deliver services does not enable us to meet the above requirements, thus the reason for the redesign and restructure of services.”
The changes to charges are set to be agreed by the Conservative council's cabinet today.
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