Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Strategic Director of Children, Families and Adults. (To Follow)

Members considered a report on the financial outturn of the Adult’s Department for 2011-12. This report built on the Mid Year Review of Financial Performance and provided further information on the mitigation strategies which were in place to help to reduce forecast overspends. Patrick Rhoden, Principal Accountant, reported that whilst the Three Quarter Financial position had yet to be finalised, the indication was that there would be a reduction in the overspend from the Mid Year position.

Lucia Scally, Head of Strategic Commissioning and Safeguarding, continued to go through each part of the Adult’s budget, highlighting the reasons for the overspend and what mitigation strategies had been put in place as a result. Members asked questions and made comments after each area.

Care4CE

Lucia Scally reported that there was a projected £1.1m overspend in this area and that this was due to the delay in delivering the rationalisation of building use and linked temporary decommissioning of ECT beds.

It was queried why there had been a delay in the rationalisation and what lessons had been learned. Councillor Roland Domleo, Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, commented that it was vital that the consultation process had been as comprehensive as possible and therefore the delay had been necessary. He also noted that the process of building valuation had taken longer than expected. In terms of what had been learned, Councillor Domleo noted that in future there would have to be a proper programme time plan on such a project.

It was questioned how long it would take to complete the Building Based Review and whether this would have an impact on the 2012/13 budget. A number of Members were doubtful that the proposed saving would be realised as the rationalisation process would not begin until after April 2012. Councillor Domleo stated that the saving would be incremental and Lucia Scally noted that the service would account for the savings profile once a final decision had been reached.

Attention was drawn to a point that had been made in a previous meeting regarding a purported disjoint between assets and adult social care which had a part to play in delaying the building base review thereby negating any potential savings for 2011/12. It was noted that this point would be reiterated when the final Building Base Review paper was submitted to scrutiny.

Individual Commissioning

Jacqui Evans, Head of Local Delivery/Independent Living Services, reported that there was a forecasted £3.241m overspend and that this position had not changed dramatically since the Mid Year Review. She explained that the overspend position was due to two main factors. Firstly, increased numbers in residential and nursing care, either because people were living longer in these settings or because individuals were increasingly depleting their own financial capital and as a result were turning to the Council for care cost support. Secondly, those in receipt of care were tending to require larger packages than individuals presenting for care previously. Jacqui Evans continued to outline ongoing initiatives which were in place  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45