Issue - meetings

The Committee considered a reference report from General Purposes and Licensing Committee relating to a Domiciliary Care appeal and supported the recommendations.

Appendix A

Care Services PDS Committee

26^th June 2014

3.  QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILLORS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC  ATTENDING THE MEETING

Questions from Susan Sulis, Community Care Protection Group

1. 2013/14 FUNDING ALLOCATIONS FOR BROMLEY RESIDENTS’ WELFARE AND CARE NEEDS.

(a)  The Bromley Welfare Fund had a surplus of approximately £377,647 from 2013/14.  What has happened to this surplus?

Reply:

The underspend in 2013/14 was carried forward and will potentially be used in 2015/16 to support the first year when funding is withdrawn from central government.  

(b)  How many charities have contracts to provide social care services to Bromley residents, and what was the value of these contracts for 2013/14?

Reply:

We don’t record this information formally, so we are only able to provide estimates based on the information we do hold. 

Annual expenditure is approximately  £18.75m and there are about 100 different providers within care services contracts. 

2. OPEN LETTER FROM 170 PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ON UK FOOD POVERTY TO THE PRIME MINISTER, PUBLISHED IN THE LANCET 10^TH MAY 2014.

(a)  Are the Members of this Committee aware of this letter?

Reply:

Yes

(b)  Is the Director of Public Health aware of this letter?

Reply:

Yes

(c)  Does she agree with the views expressed? If not, can she please explain why she disagrees, and the evidence to support her disagreement?

Reply:

This is a factual letter based on the information from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Office of National Statistics (ONS). I agree with the Faculty of Public Health that the UK nutrition should be monitored and action taken at the national level to improve the overall nutritional status of the nation and consequently Public Health.

3. FINAL OUTTURN REPORT 2013/14 (Item 8(b), PUBLIC HEALTH UNDERSPEND (p.55, para.3.5)

In 2013/14, the Public Health Budget was underspent by £769,000, and has been transferred to a Public Health Reserve, which can be used this year for P.H. activities.

 (a) Can some of this funding be used to investigate and mitigate the effects of food poverty in Bromley on vulnerable residents?

Reply:

This is a matter for the Council’s Executive and, from time to time, appropriate uses for any underspends are identified. The money is held in a contingency identified for Public Health purposes and so has to be spent in line with the terms of the transfer.