Agenda item

The Committee considered the Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report in relation to the Social Care and Health Service, which provided an update on the latest budgetary position as at 30th June 2021, in respect of 2021/22 financial year.

The Cabinet Member for Resources advised that the Social Care & Health Service was projecting an overspend of £492K on the revenue budget and a net variance of £97K against the 2021/22 approved capital budget.

The following questions / observations were raised on the report:

Appendix A

·         Concern was raised regarding the significant predicted overspend when large parts of the service had not been delivered due to Covid. It was also asked if any additional funding would be provided by Welsh Government what had not been included in the figures.

The Group Accountant advised that grant offers had been received within the last few weeks and also some Social Care recovery funding. Work was on-going on how best to spend the funding but it would be invested in providing services and interventions.

Appendix B

·         In relation to Learning Disability – Private Day Service it was asked what the ‘alternative’ service was that had been provided.

The Committee was advised that it was a combination of some services being brought back in-house and 1-2-1 support provided at home when appropriate.

·         Concern was raised regarding delays to the re-opening of the day centres.

The Head of Integrated services advised that discussions regarding the plans for re-opening the service were well underway and that the Authority was very clear that the service would be re-opened. Three key areas had been undergoing assessment - building risk assessments, transport and staffing to ensure alignment with Government guidelines. Initially the re-opening would be a scaled down service to ensure safety of both staff and service users. 

·         An update was requested on Cwm Aur and the partial delivery of savings.  It was stated that costs had not increased and that at the time of setting the contract potential savings had been identified but not delivered. The committee was advised that a fuller description would be included within the next report.

·         It was asked why direct payments for mental health and physical disability had increased when direct payments for older people had reduced.

The Head of Integrated Services advised that managing direct payments brought with it some challenges. Generally, older people had less capacity and / or capability to manage direct payment and that having the council commissioning on their behalf removed the stress. On the whole, younger people wanted to manage their own services and were often supported by family.

Appendix E

·         Further clarity was requested regarding the Capital budget which was stated as Awaiting 2022/23 awards and which financial year would the awards be received.

The Committee was advised that a response would be provided following the meeting.

Appendix F

·         It was asked how confident officers were that savings proposals would be achieved.

The Group Accountant advised that it was a reasonable assumption that the savings would be achieved as they were well established and had been delivered in previous years.

RESOLVED that the report be received