Councils have taken significant steps towards achieving their target of providing universal personal budgets – payments from local and central government directly to service users – in adult social care by 2013, a survey has revealed.

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) survey, published this week, found that 98% of 58 councils surveyed had a clear strategic approach for meeting the 2013 target: 97% said they are on target, and 98% are confident they have identified their target group.