Issue - meetings

Report FSD21039

The Committee considered a report which provided details of the final outturn position for the Adult Care and Health Portfolio for 2020/21. The final outturn for the “controllable” element of the Adult Care and Health budget in 2020/21 was a net underspend of £547k compared to the last reported figure of a net underspend of £591k, which was based on activity at the end of December 2020.

The Head of Finance for Adults, Health and Housing highlighted that there had been some significant cost factors over the last year. Funding had been received through grants from the government and the CCG, however these packages would soon be coming to an end. There were also significant full year effect cost pressures of nearly £5m in 2021/22. It was noted that the Council-wide budget monitoring report to the Executive recommended that £6.5m be set aside in an earmarked reserve which could be available to mitigate COVID-19 related pressures and drawn down from if required. It was stressed that these ongoing pressures would need to be managed as best they could.

A Member enquired why costs relating to a legal case had been charged to the mental health budget. The Head of Finance for Adults, Health and Housing advised that this was the compensation claim rather than legal costs, and this is where it had been required to sit in the Council’s overall budget in accordance with CIPFA requirements. In response to a further question, the Head of Finance for Adults, Health and Housing said that the underspend in the Contain Outbreak Management Fund had been approved for use in 2021/22 and further information would be provided in the Budget Monitoring report presented at the Committee’s September 2021 meeting.

In response to questions, the Head of Finance for Adults, Health and Housing advised that the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted the department’s ability to achieve the learning disabilities savings target set, and that this had previously been reported. A significant amount of the shortfall related to the budgeted savings attributed to the Shared Lives service. With regards to the Capital Charges of £1.7m listed in Appendix 4 of the report, the Head of Finance for Adults, Health and Housing advised that these were shown within the portfolio budget as “non-controllable” and agreed to provide a detailed breakdown to Members following the meeting.

A Member highlighted that the funds in the Public Health budget had accumulated over several years. This money was ring-fenced, and it was suggested that a plan should be established to address the priority areas within Public Health. The Chairman requested that the relevant officers look at this is further detail following the meeting.

RESOLVED: that

1)  The net underspend of £547k on controllable expenditure at the end of 2020/21 be noted; and

2)  The Portfolio Holder for Adult Care Health be recommended to endorse the 2020/21 final outturn position for the Adult Care and Health Portfolio.