Issue - meetings

Report by the Chief Executive

63.1     The Committee discussed its input into the Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources process and possible future improvements. The Committee’s comments included:

•           Members welcomed the process for consulting with the scrutiny committee over its priorities for the use of the additional one-off funding for 2020/2021.  In particular, the Committee noted that of the five top priorities identified by the People Scrutiny RPPR Board, four were subsequently agreed by Cabinet. 

•           Members also discussed the one-off funding options which Cabinet had not approved and noted the possibility that provision may be made for the following revenue projects within the Priority Outcomes and Transformation Reserve:

·         Ref L – ASC Home Care Commissioning

·         Ref I - ASC Assessment & Care Management journey

·         Ref J - ASC Behavioural Insight

·         Ref K - ASC Bedded Care

·         Ref M - ASC/CS IT Care Management System

In response to a query about the process for making decisions about whether to proceed with any of the above options, the Director of Adult Social Care clarified that approval would be subject to a business case which identified clear benefits.  Members were also informed that the ability to take forward the above options would be dependent on other areas of activity and the outcomes of further integration work with the NHS.    

63.2     Members particularly welcomed the decision to approve funding in support of the ‘No Wrong Door’ option for Children’s Services (ref E in Appendix 1 to the covering report).    Given the importance of the initiative and in response to a request from the Committee, the Director of Children’s Services undertook to provide at an appropriate time an update on progress with implementation.

63.3     The Committee RESOLVED to note the report and request that the Director of Children’s Services provide an update for the Committee at an appropriate time on progress with the ‘No Wrong Door’ initiative.

Report by the Chief Executive.

56.1     Keith Hinkley, Director of Adult Social Care and Health introduced the report by providing an overview of the current context within which the Council’s RPPR process has been undertaken.  This included, for example, informing Members that the 2019 Spending Round contained additional funding for social care for 2020/21.   Whilst welcoming the one-off funding, </AI6>Mr Hinkley informed Members that the additional monies would not have a significant impact on the Council’s Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP). 

56.2      Members were also informed that the one-off funding offers the opportunity to review current savings plans through: reprofiling savings; investing in services to reduce future demand; and/or make one-off capital investment.   The range of one-off funding options presented to the Committee were developed by Chief Officers with the following principles in mind:

• No ongoing revenue costs which add to future savings are created;
• Future pressures and or demand are reduced;
• The effect on partners is considered; and
• Recognising the MTFP is for 3 years and therefore the funding does not have to be spent in year one.

56.3     The Committee were asked to consider these principles and were invited to:

• review the updated Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP);
• comment on the options for the use of one-off funding (as set out in Appendices 2 and 3 of the Cabinet report, attached as Appendix A to the covering report); and
• identify any further work or information needed to aid the Scrutiny Committee’s contribution to the RPPR process for consideration at the December RPPR Board.

56.4       Following an extensive discussion of the options put before them, Members asked for further detail regarding the following items which they identified as priorities:

• Q - Children’s Services reprofile of safeguarding savings (£0.586m in 2020/21);
• T - Adult Social Care assessment and care management journey (£0.452m over two years from 2020/21);
• U - Adult Social Care behavioural insight (£0.500m over two years from 2020/21);
• V - Adult Social Care Bedded Care (£0.359m, £0.300m, £0.196m in 2020/21);
• W - Adult Social Care Home Care Commissioning (£0.110m in 2020/21);
• X - Adult Social Care/Children’s Services Accommodation and floating support (£0.987m, £0.582m, £0.260m in 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 respectively);
• Y - Adult Social Care/Children’s Services IT Care Management System (£0.165m in 2020/21 and £0.048m in each of 2021/22 and 2022/23); and
• Z - Children’s Services No Wrong Door (£3.375m over the three years to 2022/23).
• AC - CS Disability Children’s Homes (£0.242m in 2020/21).  Expected to achieve net savings of £0.352m p.a. from 2020/21.

56.5With regard to the above priorities, the Committee also asked that both departments

provide as appropriate to their remit further commentary about the potential impact of each priority.

56.6   The Committee RESOLVED to agree that further detail about options Q, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z and AC and their potential impact are provided to Members in support of the RPPR Board’s discussion at its meeting on 16 December 2019.