Issue - meetings

Report CS16020

The Committee considered a report setting out the budget monitoring position for the Care Services Portfolio based on activity up to the end of December 2015. 

The Adult Social Care budget was projected to be in an underspend position of £745k, with overspends in Placements, Domiciliary Care, Direct Payments for 18-64 year olds and Housing offset by underspends in other services across the Care Services Portfolio and a one off contribution to Extra Care Housing from the Better Care Fund of £300k.  Although the variance was zero, there had been considerable activity within Public Health to manage the in-year grant reduction imposed by the Department of Health of £919k and a range of savings had been made across the Public Health budget during 2015/16, with £141k carried forward grant held in contingency.  An exercise had recently been carried out across the Education, Care and Health Services Department which had identified £1,687k savings that could be achieved in 2015/16 which would have an ongoing impact in 2016/17 with a projected £2,388k full year impact.  This was a result of work to drive efficiencies and identify new ways of delivering and commissioning services.

The Portfolio Holder for Care Services advised Members that a request would be made to the Council’s Executive to carry forward £152k funding for 2016/17.  This comprised £55k to offset a shortfall of funding in the Bromley Safeguarding Children Project, and £97k to meet additional staffing costs in the Youth Offending Service.  Work was being undertaken to ensure that all key partners contributed sufficient funding towards the Bromley Safeguarding Children Project to support the service to be sustainable into the future.  The additional staffing costs in the Youth Offending Service were a short term measure necessary to embed improvements across the service which was located within the Education Portfolio.

RESOLVED that:

1)  The projected underspend of £3,646k forecast on the controllable budget based on information as at December 2015 be noted.

2)  The full year effect of credit of £2,787k in the Care Services Portfolio budget be noted.

3)  The request to carry forward £152k of underspend into the next financial year to cover one off costs in 2016/17 in the Children’s Social Care service be noted.

4)  The Portfolio Holder for Care Services be recommended to:

i)  Note the latest projected underspend of £3,646,000 for the Care Services Portfolio forecast on the controllable budget, based on information as at December 2015.

ii)  Request the Council’s Executive approve £152k for the release of £152k from the Central Contingency relating to a shortfall of £55k funding in the Bromley Safeguarding Children Board and additional staffing costs of £97k in the Youth Offending Service for 2016/17.