Issue - meetings

The Committee discussed the latest Adult Social Care budget report and noted the details. The Committee asked for details on what is covered by Statutory requirements and what aspects fell in to Discretionary and the interdependence of each.

The Committee received a budget report covering the period up to the end of June 2023 from the finance team. This showed an overspend of £12.1m, representing 6% of the overall budget. The pressure on the budget was attributed to higher costs, inflation and increasing demand. Mitigations in place were: -

•      Providers charging VAT

•      Medium Term Financial Planning – Review fees for 24/25

•      Reduce overreliance of bed placements

•      Reablement Service

•      Voids

•      Review high cost/complex placements – re Continuing Health Care/Joint Funding

•      Any additional funding from Integrated Care Board – System Solution

•      Review all interim placements – no longer commission

•      Effective use of Disabled Facilities Grant.

The Committee were also informed that the expected savings from the My Life, My Future programme were going to be £0.2m in the current year due to longer roll out than originally anticipated and will now be achieved in 2024/25.

The Committee discussed the report, asked for clarification around some of the mitigations and an explanation of some of the terminology; voids and Newton Europe.

The Committee asked if the high costs were attributed to out of area individuals, children and families or care packages not meeting current need. It was confirmed it was all three.

The Committee asked if they could be supplied with clear definitions of ‘statutory’ and ‘discretionary’  provision. Recognising the interdependencies of the two and the risk of not delivering discretionary support could led to higher statutory costs in the long term. This detail was promised.

Resolved:

The Committee discussed the latest Adult Social Care budget report and noted the details. The Committee asked for details on what is covered by Statutory requirements and what aspects fell in to Discretionary and the interdependence of each.