Issue - decisions

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

64.2     It was RESOLVED to:

1) Subject to confirmation of sufficient Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Grant (DATRIG) allocation by 31 March 2025, agree to:

(i)    continue funding a carers drug and alcohol recovery service for an additional year to June 2026 subject to the amendments described in paragraph 5.7 of the report;

(ii)   combine the drug and alcohol recovery support services currently provided by the Seaview Project (as described in paragraph 2.1 of the report) into a single contract and to continue funding these services for an additional year to June 2026 subject to the amendments described in paragraph 5.7 of the report.

2) In the absence of confirmation of sufficient Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Grant (DATRIG) allocation by 31 March 2025, agree to cease funding for drug and alcohol recovery service (as described in paragraph 2.1 of the report) following expiry of the current contracts on 30 June 2025; and

3) Delegate to the Director of Adult Social Care and Health authority to take all actions considered necessary to give effect to the recommendations set out in the report, including but not limited to, issuing any required contract notices.

Reasons

64.3     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.

64.4     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.

64.5     It is anticipated that the additional funding to be made available to the Council for 2025/26 through the DATRIG makes it possible to achieve the required saving of £319,000, whilst also preserving drug and alcohol recovery services for people in the County for an additional year. The recovery services provided will be at a reduced level to reflect the funding anticipated to be available; however, officers will work closely with the service provider to minimise this reduction through reconfiguring the existing service model.

64.6     If, however, the DATRIG allocation is not confirmed by 31 March 2025 or the confirmed allocation is insufficient to fund these services, the funding will cease for drug and alcohol recovery services with effect from 30 June 2025 when the existing contracts expire.

64.7     Cabinet members have read and had regard to the Equalities Impact Assessment when making decisions related to this proposal.