Issue - meetings

Report CS15937

The report provided the budget monitoring position for 2015/16 based on activity up to the end of August 2015.

The following matters were discussed and noted -

·  It was noted that, in section 3.8 of the report, the savings in staffing, short breaks and direct payments made in the Children’s Disability Service were due to a reduction in demand for these services. Members queried whether this might in turn be because the provider was not offering the services that people wanted.

·  The Carelink overspend was due to staffing savings being implemented late.

·  The Independent Living Fund had now closed, with responsibility passing from central government to the local authority.

·  The Council faced enormous financial pressures in the next few years, and proposals for making major savings were needed.

·  A Member commented that, despite the current underspends, there was a need to invest more in mental health services. It was accepted that this was an issue for the Health and Wellbeing Board to consider, and this had been recognised in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA.) Members who would be participating in the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee looking at the Our Healthier South East London programme had flagged that mental health services should be integrated into the project, and Public Health was increasing its efforts to reach out via the schools.

·   A Member asked for information about the contract waiver for £353k in appendix 1B of the report. (Note:  It was subsequently confirmed that this was a one year contract for Supporting People – Tenancy Sustainment Service, awarded to Hestia Housing and Support. This had been reported to the Committee on 23^rd June 2015.)

·  Linda Gabriel reported that Healthwatch were doing some work on assessments in Extra Care Housing – her concern was that these appeared not to be updated between annual reviews. Officers confirmed that assessments could be requested at any time, and providers could adjust their services within certain tolerances to meet their clients’ needs. The Chairman was concerned at the level of voids in Extra Care Housing and suggested that age limits could be reduced so that the accommodation could be made available to younger people. A report was requested addressing these issues.

·  It was noted that there was now an underspend on No Recourse to Public Funds, but this area remained volatile and the Committee would continue to monitor demand.

RESOLVED that

(1) The following matters be noted -

 (i)  the latest projected underspend of £1,623,000 forecast on the controllable budget, based on information as at August 2015;

(ii)  the full year effect for 2016/17 of a credit of £1,949,000 as set out in section 4 of the report;

(iii)  the carry forward release requests as detailed in section 5 of the report;

(iv)  the comments of the Department in section 8 of this report;

(2) The Portfolio Holder for Care Services be asked to refer the funding release requests in section 5 of the report in contingency to the Executive for approval.