Disability charity Mencap has expressed concern after the council crept up some charges for social care services.

Richmond Council has increased the weekly fees at four of its care homes by between £50 and £62 for residents from outside the borough. People with mental health needs at the Kingston Lane Hostel, in Teddington, and another hostel in Munster Road, Teddington, will see their rent go up from £160 a week to £164.

The Access Project specialist day centre, in Kneller Road, Whitton, will also raise the cost of meals for its disabled residents from £2.70 to £3.40 from April 1 this year.

Councillor Nicola Urquhart, cabinet member for adult services, health and housing at Richmond Council, said its increases were small and the authority would not ask anyone to pay more than they could afford.

Justin Wright, chief officer of Richmond Mencap, said: “Richmond Mencap is obviously concerned about any increases in charges, however small, and any impact that they may have on each person’s individual circumstances, including any increase in contribution they may have to make.

“Many people are facing hardship in the country due to the recession and it is clear that people using learning disability services are disproportionately affected.”

Councillor Liz Jaeger, Liberal Democrat spokeswoman for social care and health, said she thought it was extraordinary the authority had frozen both council tax and parking charges but increased costs for the borough’s most vulnerable residents.

Coun Urquhart also gave the green light for charging £221 – up from £215 - for Telecare alarms which elderly people can press for help if they have an emergency at home. And drivers with mobility problems who want to apply for or renew a Blue Badge parking permit will see the administration fee go up from £2 to £10.

The council said the £2 price had been a temporary Government initiative to encourage motorists to use Blue Badges.

Councillor Geoffrey Samuel, deputy leader of Richmond Council, also said Richmond taxpayers’ would be “furious” if they had to subsidise residents from other boroughs to use its care homes.

He said authority had decided not to make the elderly or disabled a funding priority this year as central Government pensions and disability grants had increased by 5.2 per cent.

He added he had given an extra £500,000 in his budget to pay for its Cold busters grant and for 28 infirm residents to get specially adapted equipment for their homes.