Agenda item

Report by the Chief Executive.

20.1     The Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council introduced the report and provided an overview of the current context within which the RPPR process has been undertaken.  This included reference to the purpose of the Core Offer, the Medium Term Financial Plan and the proposed savings (as set out in the report considered by Cabinet on 13 November 2018).   Reference was also made to a number of continuing areas of uncertainty and the impact this is having on budget planning.   The Leader also highlighted the significant work undertaken to raise awareness at the national level regarding the particular funding pressures facing East Sussex County Council.  

20.2     The key points discussed by the Committee are summarized below:

Core Offer - Customer Service (Appendix 1 to Appendix A)

20.3   The Committee noted the commentary under the Customer Service section in the Core Offer which states that ‘we will expect people to use the online resources available and will provide automated responses wherever possible, so people may not always get anindividualised reply to enquires’.   Members accepted that a move to providing resources online is overall a desirable development that will benefit the majority of service users.  However, the Committee asked how the needs of individuals who might struggle to access online resources will be addressed.  In response the Committee were assured that all Departments accept the need to ensure that appropriate mitigations are in place to meet the needs of individuals who are not able to access services online.   

Standards and Learning Effectiveness Service (SLES) proposed savings (Appendix 3 to Appendix A)

20.4    In response to a question regarding the savings proposals for SLES, the Director of Children’s Services informed the Committee that the savings plan ‘captures’ the continued direction of travel for the Department – as millions of pounds have already been removed from its budget.  The Department is therefore trying to ensure its services are effectively organised in the context of the ongoing budget reductions.  This includes, for example, seeing what can be done to share resources and responsibilities and planning the implementation of savings so that services and schools are given as much time as possible to adapt to reduced levels of support.

Core Offer descriptions

20.5   The Committee asked for clarification regarding the descriptions in Appendix A relating to partnerships and school improvement support as set out in Appendix 1 (pages 21 and 22 of the agenda) and Appendix 3 (page 31 of the agenda).  In response the Department confirmed that whilst the descriptions use ‘light touch’ language, the wording in both appendices is intended to convey the same meanings with regard to the impact of the proposed savings.  The Department confirmed further clarification would be provided to Members at the RPPR Board meeting.

Savings Gap

20.6     The Committee noted that despite the savings set out in the Core Offer, the report identified a further £10.8m deficit for 2019/20.  As a result the Committee asked for more detail regarding how the Council believes it will achieve this additional saving and what has been done to assess the impact of these savings and the associated risks.  In response, the Chief Executive informed the Committee that the report provides ‘high level’ detail which aims to help the reader easily identify key issues; that further detail is available on the Council’s website; and that additional commentary would become available, but that the timing of this was dependent on a range of factors such as the detail contained within the Local Government Finance Settlement.   

Refuges

20.7   The Committee asked for clarification as to what the Council’s response would be if its bid to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (for funding for domestic abuse services) was not successful.  In response, the Director of Adult Social Care confirmed that the Department had already planned for this scenario and that if the bid did not succeed, the service would be reduced to the levels set out in its report to Cabinet (26 June 2018). The Committee also asked for clarification as to what proportion of women who access East Sussex refuges were from within the county.  In response, the Director undertook to supply the requested data separately to relevant Members.

Homeless

20.8   The Committee discussed its concerns regarding the proposed reduction in ASC funding in this area and its impact on the number of beds available for homeless people.  In response, the Director of Adult Social Care informed the Committee that the Department are working to ensure it makes the best use of its resources in this area and that significant commitments have already been made to help support people in this group.   Furthermore, the Committee were informed that the provider of this service has submitted a bid for additional external funding which, if successful, would allow the organisation to sustain the existing services in East Sussex.  

Assessment and Care Management Staff

20.9   The Committee discussed the impact of the loss of experienced staff within the Assessment and Care Management service and what mitigations had been put in place by the Department.  In response, the Committee were informed that the Department went through a process that sought to balance the levels of skills and experience within the service.  The process followed by the Department was also informed by its decision to seek to protect frontline social workers and the most skilled practitioners.  The Department has sought to be clear about the impact of these savings and the associated potential risks.    

HIV Support Service

20.10   The Committee discussed signposting relating to HIV support services as some members of the public had provided feedback regarding the visibility of this support.  In response the Director commented that he believed the pathways and signposting are clear.   However, he welcomed the feedback and undertook to discuss the matter in more detail with the relevant Member. 

20.11   RESOLVED to:

1) note the Core Offer proposals, MTFP and savings plans for 2019/20 to 2021/22 and the additional information provided in Appendix B to the report; and

2) agree that the People Scrutiny RPPR Board will be comprised of all People Scrutiny   Committee members who wish to attend.