Issue - meetings

Report FSD19064

The Committee considered a report which provided details of the final outturn position for 2018/19 for the Adult Care and Health Portfolio.  The final outturn for the “controllable” element of the Adult Care and Health budget in 2018/19 was a net underspend of £48,000 compared to the last reported figure of a net underspend of £13,000 based on activity at the end of December 2018.

The report highlighted that the main areas of pressure were in Assessment and Care Management, Learning Disabilities, and Mental Health, and related to the growing number of service users supported, which was above the numbers and baseline of the budget that was agreed for the financial year.  As a demand-led service there was a statutory requirement to provide support and care to residents based on their assessed needs.  In addition to this, more support was being provided to carers to enable them to support their loved ones in order to reduce escalation to statutory care services.

Noting the target for income from the CCG of £108k in respect of services for 18-64+, a Co-opted Member asked how the level of funding from the CCG was agreed.  The Head of Assessment and Care Management explained that the assessment was based on a consideration of whether there was a primary health or a social care need as well as an assessment of hours.  The Managing Director (Bromley CCG) confirmed that contributions were based on an assessment of need and highlighted that there were clear benefits to both the Local Authority and Bromley CCG of working more closely on this issue.

In relation to the recovery of unused direct payments from service users, a Co-opted Member highlighted that recipients of direct payments had the same responsibilities to the people that they paid to help them as an employer.  Direct payment recipients were therefore advised to have some reserves from the direct payment to cover any costs associated with redundancy, sick pay, pension etc. that may arise.

In response to a question, the Head of Adult Health and Housing Finance agreed to provide further details around placements following the meeting.

A Member noted that the underspend in the Public Health Grant had grown significantly since 2014/15.  By way of clarification, the Interim Chief Executive explained that Public Health England had indicated that there would be a net reduction in the grant, this had enabled the Council to manage use of the grant to ensure that any future reductions in the grant would not affect the delivery of key services and that there was sufficient funding to support services that had been commissioned for two or three years.

RESOLVED: That

1. The net underspend of £48,000 on controllable expenditure at the end of 2018/19 be noted; and

2. The Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Health be recommended to endorse the 2018/19 final outturn position for the Adult Care and Health Portfolio.