THE prices for meals on wheels and community alarm services have been "reluctantly" increased by five per cent by Fife Council.

The rises were voted through 13-9 with SNP councillors warning that the move could put elderly, vulnerable and low income Fifers at risk. 

Cllr Craig Walker said: “Service users are the people having to bear the brunt of these increases.

"We are talking about things like community alarms, which quite literally could be a life-saving service.”

Meals on wheels is a service for the elderly, ill, or vulnerable and provides a daily lunch and a regular friendly visit.

The community alarm service allows elderly or disabled residents to call an operator in the event of a fall or emergency. 

The increases were approved with the support of Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat members.

Labour councillor David Graham said the actual price rises will be “in the region of pences”. 

The council said the price of a two course meal on wheels will go up from £4.75 to £4.99 per week.

The weekly price of a community alarm will rise from £2.80 to £2.94.

But Cllr Walker said: “Not to put too fine a point on it, increases of several pence in the current cost-of-living crisis could be enough to put some people over the edge.” 

The price hikes came in this month and the five per cent rise will generate an additional £150,000 per year for the council.

The Labour administration said the increases were in line with those across other services – including council tax and rent. 

Council leader David Ross supported the increases “given the impact of inflation on services”. 

“A five per cent maximum increase is the same direction we’ve given to other services,” he said. 

Cllr Altany Craik added: “It would be remiss if we didn’t do this now.

"Inflation of nearly 20 per cent means there is an inherent pressure on the delivery of this service.

"Although it’s uncomfortable, it’s something we need to do to make the service continue.”

The cost of respite care for adults is also increasing by between 10.3 per cent and 11 per cent.