Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health

63.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

63.2     It was RESOLVED to:

1) Agree that the on-site support provided at three Supported Accommodation services for adults with mental health needs who are homeless or at risk of homelessness (as set out in paragraph 2.4 of the report) cease from 31 December 2025.

2) Agree that the on-site support provided at two Supported Accommodation services for adults with additional support needs who are homeless or at risk of homelessness (as set out in paragraph 2.4 of the report) cease from 31 December 2025.

3) Agree that the contract with Pathways be terminated with effect from 31 December 2025 and delegate authority to the Director of Adult Social Care and Health to serve notice of early termination; and

4) Delegate to the Director of Adult Social Care and Health authority to take all other necessary actions to give effect to the recommendations set out in the report in order to deliver Adult Social Care and Health Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) requirements.

Reasons

63.3     The Council is required to set a balanced budget. The ‘State of the County’ report presented to Cabinet in June 2024 set out a projected £55m deficit on the 2025/26 budget. Savings proposals requiring public consultation that would help to close this gap were presented to Cabinet in September 2024.

63.4     The total savings proposals for the Medium-Term Financial Plan for 2025/26-2027/28 set out in November 2024 were £20.628m, across all Council departments. The Adult Social Care and Health (ASCH) contribution to the savings total is £11.455m. In addition to these savings proposals, in order to achieve a balanced budget, the Council is also drawing on its financial reserves.

63.5     The accommodation-based services covered within the report provide support to a range of homeless people with mental health needs and adults with multiple complex support needs. Demand for the services is high, and the unit costs represent exceptional value for money. The impact of withdrawing the funding for the support element of the contract is likely to render the services financially unviable and the providers have informed the Council that as a result they will be forced to close.

63.6     The people currently living within the service will need to move out. These individuals have been referred into the service because they were homeless, or at risk of homelessness, so many will not have accommodation options available to them. This is therefore likely to result in an increase in homelessness, including outcomes that are related to homelessness, including among others, alcohol and drug misuse and criminal behaviour. The Cabinet had due regard to the likely impact of the proposals on crime and disorder in the area, reoffending and the use of drugs, alcohol and other substances.

63.7     Notwithstanding the above, the on-site support provided at three Supported Accommodation services for adults with mental health needs and two Supported Accommodation services for adults with additional support needs who are homeless  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63