Agenda item

Report by Chief Executive

71.1    Philip Baker, Assistant Chief Executive, introduced the report by providing an overview of the challenging context within which the RPPR process for 2021/22 is taking place.  This included highlighting the financial uncertainty created by the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and the continued uncertainty around future levels of Government funding.   As a result, it had not yet been possible to articulate a revised Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP).  Although the committee were also informed that an update on the Council’s financial position would be considered by Cabinet on 2 October and that Members would be kept up to date with the evolving financial position.  

71.2    The committee then discussed the financial and business planning information it had been supplied with in support of its contribution to the RPPR process.  A summary of the key discussion points is set out below. 

71.3    With regard to the ‘Performance Measures and Targets’ section of the Portfolio Plans, it was noted that some targets for 2020/21 and beyond were set at a level lower than the outturn figures for 2019/20.  Members therefore asked for further detail about how targets are set and why some of them ‘are not more ambitious’.  In response, Stuart Gallimore, Director of Children’s Services, informed Members thatdepartments are ambitious but that targets must be realistic and take account of the impact of changes to budgets and other factors.  Furthermore, and because of the unprecedented impact of the pandemic, past performance is currently ‘no longer necessarily the best predictor of the future’.   For example, there has been a 20% increase in the number of children being placed on child protection plans during the first quarter of 2020. This increase coincides with the national lockdown.  Previous experience would not have led the Department to predict this significant increase.  With that in mind, achieving targets will therefore be particularly challenging at the current time.  Nonetheless the Department remain ambitious, and performance is regularly reviewed and reported on.

71.4    Clarification was sought aboutprogress with regard to implementing the ‘No Wrong Door’ initiative.  The Children’s Services Department believe this relatively new initiative will help deliver a number of significant benefits in support of its work with adolescents aged 12-25 and who are dealing with complex challenges.   The Director of Children’s Services confirmed that whilst the impact of Covid-19 had led to a necessary pause in development work, the Department regard the programme as important as it will help deliver more effective support to Looked after Children in the county.  It is anticipated therefore that with the release of monies as part of the settlement for 2020/21, work will re-commence in April 2021.   As the Department are keen to make rapid progress though, a more recent development includes the placement of an advert for a project manager for the programme. 

71.5      The Committee welcomed that a ‘Support to Care Homes and Covid-19 Impact on Black Asian Minority Ethnic Groups’ report was set to be considered by the East Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board on 17 September 2020.  However, given the public interest in this topic and the likelihood of a second wave of the pandemic, the committee agreed it would be appropriate for it to have its own discussion of the related issues.   As a result, it was agreed to request that a report based on the Health and Wellbeing Board item be brought to the November 2020 meeting of the committee.  

71.6In response to a query about the Council’s ability to maintain its safeguarding

performance in the light of further potential reductions in funding, the committee were informed that it had been agreed last year to postpone savings relating to safeguarding.Going forward, and as part of the RPPR process this year, the deliverability of those savings would again be reviewed.

71.7      With regard to the impact of previously agreed savings on Early Help services, the Director of Children’s Services said that the scale of savings required meant that it had been necessary for the Department to develop a strategy that would focus services on those in greatest need.  Although due to a range of factors outside of the control of the Children’s Services Department, it had subsequently become necessary to re-profile savings with regard to the closure of some of the Children’s Centres identified in the Early Help strategy. 

71.8    With regard to preventing the spread of the coronavirus, the committee asked for clarification about the monitoring and training of agencies who provide services to residents.  In response Tom Hook, Assistant Director for Planning, Performance and Engagement, confirmed that extensive support around Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided to the wider care sector.  This includes a standing and enhanced training offer around the use of PPE.  Furthermore, at the height of the crisis the Department issued daily email bulletins which provided updates on the evolving national guidance.  The Department also issued over two million items of PPE via the Sussex Local Resilience Forum to local care facilities and to the Department’s staff.  

71.9    The Committee RESOLVED to establish a RPPR Scrutiny Review Board to meet on Thursday 17 December 2020 to consider the developing Portfolio Plans, the Medium Term Financial Plan and savings proposals as they emerge and to submit Scrutiny’s final comments on them to Cabinet in January 2021.