Issue - meetings
Council Fund Budget 2024/25
Meeting: 09/02/2024 - Social & Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 43)
43 Council Fund Budget 2024/25 PDF 109 KB
Additional documents:
Decision:
That the Social Services portfolio’s options to reduce budgets be noted.
Minutes:
The Strategic Finance Manager introduced the report which provided an overview of the progress so far and reflected on the disappointing funding which was received from Welsh Government (WG). She provided an outline on the impacts on the portfolios of the Council and the proposals for Social Services which were being presented today.
The Chief Officer (Social Services) commented that the portfolio had done its part to enable the Council to obtain a balanced budget.
The Senior Manager for Children’s Services referred to the proposed efficiency proposals for Children Services which included an update on the Council’s 5 residential care properties, information on the service review of Adult and Children’s Services and the use of grant funding opportunities.
The Senior Manager for Integrated Services and Lead Adults referred to the work which had been undertaken looking at a number of areas whilst not impacting frontline services. Information was provided on the review of Adult Services, effective in-house services keeping people out of hospital and the difficulties with regard to recruitment. An update was provided regarding Marleyfield and the approach by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to increase the funding that they provided for this service. An overview of the review which had taken place with NEWCIS around the stores items purchased was given together with information on how grant funding was targeted and used differently.
The Senior Manager for Safeguarding and Commissioning provided information on how the vacancy management and recruitment challenges within frontline roles were protected. Information was provided on the reduction in the regional contribution and the work undertaken by the Regional Partnership Board and Regional collaboration team. She then referred to the Appointee and Deputyship Service charges, the work undertaken looking for efficiency savings within contracts with the third sector and young adults who attend residential college. An update was also given on Older People’s Commissioning and Care Commissioning.
The Chief Officer (Social Services) explained that point 1.07 in the report provided a list of ongoing risks for the portfolio which was adversely impacted by the difficulties with recruitment and retention of social workers. He referred to the in-year Government grants and the growth in service demand for Adult and Children’s Social Care.
Councillor Dave Mackie thanked officers for all the work carried out and the additional work done to address budget reductions. He referred to the section within the report around all Portfolios being asked to revisit their cost base to look again at potential ways of reducing budgets or removing cost pressures to contribute more to meeting the remaining gap, and asked if the Social Services Portfolio had set a target for further reducing budget?
In relation to the proposed charge for appointee services, Councillor Mackie asked how much would the cost be per individual and also in relation to the proposed Disability services charging for college placements, how much would the charges be?
The Senior Manager for Safeguarding and Commissioning explained that in relation to the proposed charge for appointee services, the ... view the full minutes text for item 43