Concerns have been raised about a consultation aimed at gauging public feeling on moving a benchmark for how much help the Bradford district’s vulnerable and elderly get in their homes.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, the Liberal Democrat leader on Bradford Council, and Keith Nathan, head of Age UK Bradford & District, said that claims by Council officers that the changes to Fair Access to Care (FACS) guidelines were not about money, voiced at a public meeting, were misleading.

They said Council officers made the claim at a meeting organised by the Bradford Disabled People’s Forum last week.

Bradford Council proposes to raise the threshold to ‘substantial’ or ‘critical’ so those with ‘moderate’ needs would no longer get help.

It could mean 2,000 people losing out, including 788 aged 18 to 64 and 1,290 aged 65 or over, making a saving of £1.57 million a year for the Council.

The consultation ends in August before the issue goes before the Council’s executive in September.

Public meetings will take place at Shipley Library on Tuesday, June 25, from 2pm to 4pm; Central Hall, Alice Street, Keighley, on Thursday, July 4, from 10.30am to 12.30pm; Jacobs Well, on Tuesday, July 9, from 6pm to 8pm, and Kings Hall, Ilkley, on Wednesday, July 17, from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

But now Mr Nathan is worried the initial stage of the consultation process may be adding to worry.

He attended last week’s event with a presentation by Adult Services staff.

“There were aspects which did bother me,” he said. “On page 2 of its 15-page consultation document the council states ‘Why are we suggesting this change: The Council has less money to spend on social care but increasing numbers of people who need support’.

“To me that is the core of the proposal. The message coming out last week was much more confused. When questioned what saving would be made by withdrawing help to people assessed as having moderate needs, the reply was given ‘This is not about money’.”

Coun Sunderland said: “I am worried if that meeting is what is counting as a consultation on changing criteria.

“The consultation is about reducing the amount of money being spent on caring for vulnerable people by £16 million – to suggest that is anything else is entirely disingenuous.”

Coun Amir Hussain, the executive member responsible for adult services, said he would investigate. He said: “I don’t think it is any officers’ or politicians’ intention to mislead anybody.

“Money is one element of the issue, but not the sole one.”