Issue - meetings

Report by the Chief Executive

21.1     The Director of Children’s Services, Stuart Gallimore, introduced the report by providing an overview of the context of the current RPPR process.

21.2       The Committee then discussed the areas of search before them and reiterated their request that written responses be provided to the items raised at its meeting in September.  These items are listed below, together with any further requests raised at the November meeting of the Committee: 

·        Revenue Budget.  The Committee asked for more detailed information about progress with Children’s Services review of all its costs across the department (which it is undertaking in response to a projected overspend for the year of approximately £4million);

·        Mental Health and Young People. More detail was requested about the impact of the savings plan on the provision of services relating to Mental Health and Young People. In particular the Committee asked about progress with the integration of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHs) with the local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

·        Children’s Centres.    Further clarification was requested about the impact of the savings plan on Children’s Centres. In particular, the Committee asked for more information about the extent of the integration between Children’s and Health Services and whether more could be done to maximize this collaboration.

·        Troubled Families.   More detail was requested about the impact of the savings plan on the delivery of services for Troubled Families.   In particular, the Committee noted the Department’s comments about the scope for making further improvements for the 0-5 age group within this service area and the Early Help service.   The Committee therefore asked for further information from the Department regarding its plans for this age group in relation to these two services.   

·        Looked After Children.   The Committee were concerned about the reference under the Impact Assessment column for this service which indicates that the proposed reduction in staffing levels will mean there is an increased risk of young people being subjected to Child Sexual Exploitation.    Further clarification was therefore sought from the Department about this proposed area of savings and their potential impact.

·        Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability (ISEND). Further clarification was sought regarding the increased costs the ISEND service is experiencing.  The Committee were specifically interested in:

o   whether more could be done to manage public expectations about the level of special educational needs support available; and

o   delays in converting statements to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and the additional costs this may incur.

o   In addition to this, and following the discussion about the overspend for the ISEND budget, the Committee requested that a report be brought to its March meeting setting out in more detail the reasons behind the high level of demand the ISEND service is experiencing.

21.3     The Committee also discussed a number of other issues.  A summary of these issues, together with responses from officers are set out below:

·        Troubled Families.    The Committee were informed that a total of 1,382 families had been engaged by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21

Report by the Chief Executive

25.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chief Executive which provided an overview of the council’s business and financial planning process (RPPR) and the Committee’s ongoing role in this process.

Capital Programme

25.2     The Committee discussed the Capital Programme and made the following comments.

• The Committee asked for further information on the New Homes Bonus as ESCC will have some future funding from this source and it would be helpful to have more clarity on the amount of funding. The Chief Finance Officer responded that historically figures have only been added for the next year, due to the uncertainty of this source of funding.

• The Committee requested further clarity about the Section 106 balances and money from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) developer contributions in the Capital Programme. The Chie Finance Officer informed the Committee that the officer capital board looks in more detail at Section 106 commitments to ensure the money is spent within the five year time limit. The Chief Operating Officer added that updates on the capital programme take place every three months and the Communities, Economy and Environment department are making sure Section 106 money is spent against commitments. The amount of money shown against Section 106 contributions may reduce in future years as the use of CIL becomes more widespread and replaces Section 106 Planning agreements.

25.3     The Chief Finance Officer commented that the Council is coming to the end of current five year Capital Programme. Planning has started for the new Capital Programme which estimates that around £100million will be needed for the future capital programme. The Chief Operating Officer added next Capital Programme will mainly be comprised of core needs (e.g. programmes for schools, highways, IT etc.) and will be mainly funded by borrowing and grants. Once the Programme is agreed it will be analysed to determine what is short term (e.g. short term IT projects) or longer term need, which may influence the way it is funded.

25.4     Committee agreed that they would like more information on the current Capital Programme and its funding to be presented at the RPPR Board in December, including an outline of intentions for next capital programme.

Savings Plan (Appendix 3)

25.5     The Committee discussed the lines of enquiry and further information it required for consideration at the RPPR Board.

Public Health

• The Committee asked for further information about the ring fencing of the Public Health grant; to what extent year on year underspends are taken into account in budget planning and; further information on the Creating Healthy Communities and Smoking Cessation programmes.

Business Services

• As Orbis determines most of the savings in this area, the Committee requested further information on proposals for savings or increasing income generation. At present the description of the savings proposals is for the whole of Orbis and the Committee requested a service by service break down of savings. The Chief Operating Officer confirmed that this information is available for the Orbis partners on service by service basis.

• The Committee requested further  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25

Report by the Chief Executive

15.1     The Director of Adult Social Care and Health highlighted the following points in his introduction:

·         The 2015/16 overspend of £6m was funded from the Better Care Fund, but it remains as an ongoing pressure, plus an additional £2.5m in 2016/17. The department is entering into discussions with NHS partners regarding mitigation of this pressure and aims to identify mitigations at an earlier point this year than last year.

·         There are very significant decisions to make in the coming months regarding the introduction of an Accountable Care Model which is the key approach being taken to achieving longer tem financial sustainability across health and social care.

15.2     The following points were made in response to the committee’s questions:

·         There would be a gap of more than £100m across health and social care with no change to the way services are commissioned and delivered. Although it is not automatic that the Accountable Care Model makes savings, it is the best available approach to achieving the objectives of prevention, earlier intervention and reducing the need for acute care. The joint strategic investment plan for a combined £860m budget will also assist in making better use of resources.

·         The RPPR process for Adult Social Care has added complexity due to the different approaches being taken in the East Sussex Better Together (ESBT) area (Hastings and Rother, and Eastbourne, Hailsham and Seaford) and the High Weald Lewes Havens area:

o   In 2017/18 the ESBT area will pool budgets of c£860m across health and social care and look at how to address all underlying deficits across the local health economy. The larger pooled budget enables more strategic decisions to be taken in line with our objectives. Areas of search for savings in this area will focus on cost avoidance, i.e. reducing demand through things such as changes to the urgent care system.

o   There is not yet agreement to pool budgets in the High Weald Lewes Havens area meaning that the ASC budget for this part of the county will need to be looked at separately. This will necessitate a different approach to addressing the savings requirement.

·         The Adult Social Care levy was introduced by government for 3 years and it is built into the overall modelling.

·         The main impact of the Sussex and East Surrey Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) is likely to be from the ‘central Sussex corridor’ element which particularly affects the High Weald Lewes Havens area. The committee will be updated on any likely impact on Adult Social Care.

15.3     The committee RESOLVED:

1)    to note that financial information will be cut into the ESBT and High Weald Lewes Havens geographies and to have a continued focus on the ESBT and Connecting 4 You programmes via the joint Scrutiny Boards.

2)    To establish an RPPR Board, comprising all available Members of the committee, to meet in December 2016 to consider the developing portfolio plans and savings proposals as they emerge in December and to submit scrutiny’s final comments on them to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15

Report by the Chief Executive

16.1     The Assistant Director, Operations introduced the report setting out the background to the Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) budget setting process for the financial year 2017/18. This is the start of the annual RPPR process which is looking at the budget for 201718. The Council is currently in the first year of the three year Savings Plan (Medium Term Financial Plan – MTFP) agreed by the Council in February 2016. The report asks the Committee to look at areas of interest and establish an RPPR Board that will meet in December.

16.2     The Chair proposed that the Committee to start by looking at the existing savings plan which a particular focus on the savings for the current financial year and those proposed for 2017/18.

Transport and Operational Service

16.3     The Assistant Director, Operations explained that this saving referred to the net cost of the subsidised bus transport scheme. The proposal is to fill the gap in funding between the money received from central government and the actual cost of operating the subsidised bus transport scheme with money from the parking surplus.

16.4     The Committee asked if there will be any adjustment to these savings figures.  The Assistant Director, Operations responded that there are no proposals to adjust the savings figures. However, the department is undertaking a piece of work to look at the operation of the parking enforcement service and how much surplus ESCC can generate. The department is confident that it is going to achieve the surplus required, and is not proposing to increase the contribution from the parking surplus.

Waste Operation - Leachate Disposal

16.5     The closed landfill sites that ESCC is responsible for are open to the elements. There is a requirement to collect the rain run-off and leachate which is taken off-site by tanker and treated. There is an existing scheme, funded from the capital budget, to build a retention tank at Pebsham and then feed the leachate into the Southern Water waste water treatment plant at Pebsham. The department is on target to deliver the project and achieve the £85,000 savings outlined in the plan. A planning application will be submitted to Rother District Council shortly. There are no opportunities to increase savings in this area.

Waste Disposal

16.6     The Assistant Director, Operations explained that this item is a reduction in the amount of revenue money transferred to the waste reserve. The department has reduced the contribution to the waste reserve in line with an assessment of the risk to the Council. There is a saving of £1,780,000 in 2016/17, which the department is on target to deliver. The £25,000 in 2017/18 will come from savings made as a result of a review of the waste contract. A report will be presented to the Committee in November to outline the areas of potential savings and efficiencies that have been identified by a review of the contract.

Transport Hub

16.7     The restructure of the transport hub has been completed with the merger of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16