Agenda item

(To receive a report by Pam Clipson, Head of Finance Adult Care, which details the Council's budget proposals for Adult Care and Community Wellbeing for the financial year 1 April 2020 – 31 March 2021)

Consideration was given to a report which detailed the Council's budget proposals for Adult Care and Community Wellbeing (ACCW) for the financial year 1 April 2020 – 31 March 2021.  The report detailed the ACCW position within the Council Position and the assumptions made given the national context.

Members were advised that the directorate had proposed a balanced budget for 2020-21.  There had been an assumption that the £14.7m allocated for Adults' and Children's Social Care for 2019-20 was one off funding for one year only.  However, since publication of the report, it had been announced that this funding would be allocated for every year of this Parliament.  This would be factored into future budgets.

Pressures and savings in each of the delivery strategies had been identified, but they were not highlighting any risks, and a balanced budget continued to be forecasted.  It was confirmed that this was a one year budget, but the finance team was working with the assistant directors on a medium term financial strategy which would run to 2023.

Members were guided through the report and were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         It was queried why the Carers Service had been transferred into Public Health during 2019-20, and it was noted that a number of services had been consolidated into three delivery strategies for 2020-21.  However, this did not materially affect the proposed funding levels for the service.  The three delivery strategies reflected a connection between the services.  For example, Public Health had a lot of experience around prevention, which was an important aspect of a carer's role.  It was also highlighted that the Wellbeing Service was located within Public Health and the Carers Service worked closely with this Service.

·         In terms of the proposed savings from reduction in staffing costs, it was queried how this would be achieved, and members were advised that these were being brought about as a service was due to be transferred to a different directorate.

·         In terms of the increase in service user contributions, it was queried what this increase would equate to per service user.  It was reported that the authority had overachieved in terms of service user contributions, and the income which was generated helped to manage the overall budget expenditure.  Members of the Executive had been vigilant that the authority was not overcharging people, and charges had been set in the mid-range. 

·         It was reported that there had been improvements in the financial assessment process, so there were now not as many outstanding. 

·         In relation to the costs of delivering existing services using technology, it was queried how this would be funded.  It was noted that this would just be a different way of procuring the existing service, and the majority of the funding would come from the Council's capital budget; using existing funds differently or grant funding.  However, a lot of the technology had already been paid for, and in some cases, the authority was taking part in a pilot of different models of working.

·         As the authority was over-performing in terms of charges, it was queried whether as a result, some people would be able to pay less.  Members were advised that the charging policy was specified by the Care Act 2014 and the County Council had to follow this legislation in developing its charging structure.  It had been calculated that about 137 service users would need to pay slightly more than previously, but officers were working with these families on a one to one basis.

·         There would be continued funding of £5.7million for social care support grant and the winter pressures grant; the latter of which would be consolidated into the improved Better Care Fund and would continue at 2019/20 levels.

·         In relation to the Public Health Grant, it was noted that a final announcement of the amount was still awaited.  However, officers were confident that the authority would not see a reduction in the amount of funding, but it was expected to contain a real terms increase of one per cent and so officers had been very cautious in their assumptions when preparing the budget proposals.

·         Details on the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review were now expected later in the year, and would not be included within the Chancellor's February budget statement.  It was hoped that the Comprehensive Spending Review would include reference to things such as the fairer funding campaign, and also recognition of the costs of running services in rural areas.

·         In relation to the Wellbeing Service, it was queried whether if everyone knew they could access it, would it need a bigger budget.  Members were advised that it was a targeted service, it was expected that over 8000 people would access this service.  It was noted that the contract had been let to the district council, and it was expected that they would promote it.

·         It was queried how the Executive Director would spend any additional money if it became available.  Members were advised that some large scale contracts were due for renewal during 2012/22 and could increase the scale of financial pressure.  These were included in the proposed 2020/21 budget.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Committee support the cogent budget proposals for 2020-21 for Adult Care and Community Wellbeing.

2.    That the Committee's congratulations be recorded for Adult Care and Community Wellbeing for consistently balancing its budget for the last seven completed financial years, with an expectation that 2019-20 would represent an eighth year; given the challenges and demands facing the service, and the overall reduction of funding from local government, this represented a significant achievement.