A Wales council has been slammed for offering “rock bottom” fees after agreeing a 8.8% hike for the coming year.

Mario Kreft, chair of Care Forum Wales (CFW), said the rise by Denbighshire County Council was “totally inadequate” and had been “immediately wiped out by inflation and the cost of living crisis”.

Kreft said: “The pretence that the council has properly consulted social care providers in Denbighshire is a total sham and the reason they don’t want to listen is that they are in denial about the true cost of providing care.”

The CFW leader compared the 8.8% fee rise with a hike of between 18% and 20% offered by neighbouring Conwy Council despite it having a lower increase in overall funding from the Welsh government.

“The upshot is that Denbighshire will be paying £9,224 a year less per person than in Conwy for providing exactly the same level of nursing care to residents,” Kreft said.

A council spokesperson said: “Denbighshire County Council has approved the proposed 8.8% increase in residential and nursing home care fees.

“Considering that this is significantly more than the 3.8% increase received in our settlement, this decision reflects that, even in the face of significant financial challenge, the council is prioritising the provision of care in the community.

“Denbighshire currently spends around £13 million on approximately 364 placements in 82 homes. With this increase, expenditure is set to increase by over £1 million.

“This strives to strike the delicate balance between navigating challenging financial constraints and ensuring that we are maintaining a sustainable future for the care sector in Denbighshire and whilst this decision comes with financial implications, it reflects our priorities as a council, and upholds our commitment to prioritising care provision in our community.

“We value our care providers in Denbighshire and remain committed to fostering an open and fair relationship with them.”