Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to a report presented by Mark Scarrott, Finance Manager (Neighbourhoods and Adult Services), which provided a financial forecast for the Adult Services Department within the Neighbourhoods and Adult Services Directorate to the end of March, 2014, based on actual income and expenditure to the end of August, 2013. 

It was reported that the forecast for the financial year 2013/14 was an overspend of £1.819M against an approved net revenue budget of £72.807M. The main budget pressures related to slippage on a number of budget savings targets including Continuing Health Care funding and implementing the review of In-house Residential Care.  

The latest year end forecast showed a number of underlying budget pressures which were being offset by a number of forecast underspends:-

Adults General Management and Training

·         A slight underspend based on estimated charges 

Older People

·         A forecast overspend on In-House Residential Care due to slippage on implementation of budget savings target and recurrent budget pressure on Residential Care income

·         Recurrent budget pressures in Direct Payments, however, client numbers had reduced since April together with a reduction in the average cost of packages

·         Underspend on In House Transport. 

·         Forecast underspend on Enabling Care and Sitting Service, Community Mental Health, Carers’ Services and slippage on the recruitment to vacant posts within Assessment and Care Management and Community Support plus additional income from Health

·         Overspend on independent sector Home Care due to an increase in demand since April

·         Overspend on independent residential and nursing care due to an additional 11 admissions in August.  Additional income from property charges was reducing the overall overspend

·         Forecast savings on in-house day care due to vacant posts and moratorium on non-pay budgets

·         Overall underspend on Rothercare due to slippage in Service Review including options for replacement of alarms

·         Minor underspend in other non-pay budgets due to moratorium on non-essential spend

Learning Disabilities

·         Overspend on independent sector Residential Care budgets due to 3 new admissions in July and shortfall on Continuing Health Care income

·         Forecast overspend on Day Care due to slippage on implementation of Day Care Review including increase in fees and charges plus recurrent budget pressure on transport

·         Forecast overspend in independent sector Home Care due to increase in demand and slippage in meeting budget savings

·         High cost placements in independent Day Care

·         High cost Community Support placements resulting in forecast overspend

·         Slippage on developing Supported Living Schemes including additional funding from Health and efficiency savings on Service Level Agreements for Advice and Information and Client Support Services was reducing the overall over spend

·         Lower than expected increase in demand for Direct Payments

·         Vacant posts within Assessment and Care Management

Mental Health

·         Projected overspend on Residential Care budget offset by an underspend in Community Support Services

·         Net reduction of 3 clients in July and additional income was reducing the budget pressure on Direct Payments

·         Minor overspends on employees’ budgets due to lower staff turnover and additional overtime and agency cover

Physical and Sensory Disabilities

·         Continued pressure on Independent Sector Domiciliary Care due to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39