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 31st March, 2015, based on actual income and expenditure to the end of May, 2014. 

It was reported that the forecast for the financial year 2014/15 was an overspend of £1.412m against an approved net revenue budget of £69.683m.  The main budget pressures related to budget savings from previous years not fully achieved in respect of additional Continuing Health Care Funding plus recurrent pressures on demand for Direct Payments.

Management actions were being developed with the aim of containing expenditure within the approved cash limited budget by the end of the financial year.

The first financial forecast showed there remained a number of underlying budget pressures. The main variations against approved budget for each Service area were as follows:-

Adults General

·         This area included the cross cutting budgets of Workforce planning and training and corporate charges and was forecasting a balanced budget at present

Older People

·         Recurrent budget pressure on Direct Payments over budget.  Client numbers had increased since April together with an increase in the amount of a number of care packages

·         Forecast underspend on Enabling Care and Sitting Service based on current level of Service was offsetting an overspend within Independent Sector Home Care which had experienced a slight increase in demand since April

·         Overspend on Independent Residential and Nursing Care due to delays in achieving the savings target for additional continuing health care (CHC) income.  Additional income from property changes was reducing the overall overspend

·         Planned delays on recruitment to vacant posts within Assessment and Care Management plus additional income from health resulting in an overall underspent

·         Overall underspend on Rothercare due to savings on maintenance contracts on the new community alarm units

·         Underspends in respect of vacancies within Community Support and Carers

Learning Disabilities

·         Independent sector Residential Care budgets forecasting an underspend due to additional Health funding.  Work continued on reviewing all CHC applications and high cost placements

·         Forecast overspend within Day Care Services due to recurrent budget pressure on external transport plus three transitional placements form Children’s Services.  This was being reduced slightly due to staff turnover higher than forecast

·         Overspend in Independent Sector Home Care due to increase in demand

·         New transitional placements from Children’s Services into Supported Living reduced by one-off grant income plus additional demand for Shared Lives resulting in an overall forecast overspend

·         Delays in meeting approved budget saving on Contracted Services for Employment and Leisure Services due to extended consultation

·         Staff turnover lower than forecast within In-house Residential Care

Mental Health

·         Projected underspend on Residential Care budget due to a reduction of three placements since April 2014

·         Underspend in Community Support due to delays in clients moving from residential care

·         Pressures on employee budgets due to lower than expected staff turnover plus review of night cover arrangements. Reduced by underspend on Direct Payments due  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16

Mark Scarrott, Finance Manager (Adult Services) presented a report relating to the Revenue Outturn position for Adult Services Department within the Neighbourhood and Adult Services Directorate for the financial year 2013/14.

It was reported that the 2013/14 revised cash limited budget was £73.555M, and the net Outturn for the Service for 2013/14 was an underspend of £33,089 (variation of -0.05%).

It was noted that a significant part of the actual underspend was due to additional income received from the NHS during the final quarter.  This, together with restricting spend to essential items only throughout the year, underpinned by tight financial management within the Service, had contributed to addressing the budget pressures within Adult Services. 

A summary revenue outturn position for Adult Social Services was given in the table within the submitted report.

The appendix to the submitted report detailed the revenue outturn 2013/14 and the reasons for variance from approved budgets.  The following key variations were highlighted:-

Adults General (-£140,000)

-        Underspend in the main due to restricting spend to essential items only, managed savings on training budgets plus additional grant funding for HIV support 

Older People’s Services (+£298,000)

-        Recurrent budget pressure on Direct Payments, delays in implementing budget savings target within In-House Residential Care due to extended consultation, overspend on independent residential and nursing care due to budget savings target for additional Continuing Health Care not achieved plus increase in demand for domiciliary care particularly during the final quarter

-        Above budget pressures reduced by additional Winter Pressures funding received in the last quarter, vacancies due to Service reviews and increased staff turnover within Assessment and Care Management and Social Work Teams, impact of restricting spend to essential items only within Day Care Services, delays on developing services for Dementia clients and carers’ breaks.  There had also been additional funding from Health to support hospital discharges, revenue savings due to delays in the replacement programme for Community Alarms and funding through capital resources

Learning Disabilities (+£132,000)

-        Main overspend in respect of SYHA residential and nursing contracts, increases in care packages and reduced in Continuing Health Care income in Supported Living Schemes

-        Increase in demand and unachievable budget saving in Domiciliary Care and high cost placements in independent day care

-        Recurrent pressures on Day Care transport including under-recovery of income from charges and new high cost placements during the year

-        Reduced by underspends in independent sector residential care budgets as a result of a review of all high cost placements plus efficiency savings on a number of independent and voluntary sector contracts and reduced care packages within Community Support Services

Mental Health Services (-£446,000)

-        Savings on Community Support budgets

-        Additional funding from Health to meet Public Health outcomes in respect of alcohol and substance misuse

Physical and Sensory Disabilities (+£383,000)

-        Recurrent budget pressure and a further increase in demand for Direct Payments plus independent Domiciliary Care

-        Pressures reduced by a planned delay in developing specialist alternatives to residential and respite care  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4

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 February, 2014. 

It was reported that the forecast for the financial year 2013/14 was an underspend of £24k against an approved net revenue budget of £73.408M, a further reduction in the overspend of £562k since the last report. The report included the recently approved funding for winter pressures, funding towards achieving Public Health Outcomes together with additional Health funding to support patients being discharged from hospital.  The main budget pressures related to the delayed implementation of a number of budget savings targets including Continuing Health Care funding and implementing the review of In-house Residential Care and under-achievement against Continuing Health Care funding.  

Management actions together with additional Health funding had resulted in reducing the forecast overspend in line with the approved cash limited budget.

The latest year end forecast showed there remained a number of underlying budget pressures.  The main variations against approved budget for each Service area were as follows:-

Adults General

·         This area included the cross cutting budgets of Workforce planning and training and corporate charges and was forecasting an overall underspend based on estimated charges including savings on training budgets and additional funding for HIV

Older People

·         A forecast overspend on In-House Residential Care due to delays 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 planned delays 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 delays in achieving the savings target for additional Continuing Health Care income (an additional 74 clients receiving a service than forecast). Additional income from property charges and Health 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 delays in Service Review including options for replacement of alarms together with additional income plus winter pressures funding for Telecare equipment

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

Learning Disabilities

·         Independent sector Residential Care budgets now forecasting a slight underspend due to a review of high cost placements.  Work continued on reviewing all Continuing Health Care applications and high cost placements

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

·         Pressures on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90

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 December, 2013. 

It was reported that the forecast for the financial year 2013/14 was an overspend of £1.083M against an approved net revenue budget of £72.809M. However, compensatory forecast underspends within the remaining NAS Directorate was reducing the overall forecast overspend to £379,000.  The main budget pressures related to the delayed implementation of a number of budget savings targets including Continuing Health Care funding and implementing the review of In-house Residential Care.  

Management actions continued to be developed by budget managers to bring the forecast overspend in line with the approved cash limited budget.

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

Adults General

·         A slight underspend based on estimated charges including savings on training budgets

Older People

·         A forecast overspend on In-House Residential Care due to delays 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 planned delays 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 73 clients receiving a service than forecast. 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

·         Slight underspend on independent sector Residential Care budgets due to a reduction in placements.  Work was ongoing with regard to Continuing Health Care applications and an internal review of all high cost placements

·         Forecast overspend on Day Care due to a delay on the 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 for Service

·         High cost placements in independent Day Care resulting in a forecast overspend.  Pressured reduced due to additional Continuing Health Care funding and 1 client moving out of the area

·         High cost Community Support placements resulting in forecast overspend

·         Delay in developing Supported Living Schemes plus additional funding from Health resulting in a forecast underspend

·         Efficiency savings on Service Level Agreements for Advice and Information and Client Support Services

·         Lower than  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73

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 November, 2013. 

It was reported that the forecast for the financial year 2013/14 was an overspend of £1.205m, against an approved net revenue budget of £72.809m. 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

·         A slight underspend based on estimated charges including training

Older People

·         A forecast overspend on In-House Residential Care due to delays 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 due to forecast additional income 

·         Forecast underspend on Enabling Care and Sitting Service, Community Mental Health, Carers’ Services and planned delays 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 73 clients receiving a service than forecast. 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 together with additional income

·         Overall minor underspends in other non-pay budgets due to moratorium on non-essential spend

Learning Disabilities

·         Slight underspend on independent sector Residential Care budgets due to a reduction in placements.  Work was ongoing regarding Continuing Health Care applications and an internal review of all high cost placements

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

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

·         High cost placements in independent Day Care resulting in a forecast overspend, however, the pressure was reduced due to additional Continuing Health Care funding and 1 client moving out of the area

·         High cost Community Support placements resulting in forecast overspend

·         Delay in developing Supported Living Schemes plus additional funding from Health resulting in a forecast underspend

·         Efficiency savings on Service Level Agreements for Advice and Information and Client Support Services

·         Lower than expected increase in demand for Direct Payments

·         Additional staffing costs and essential repairs within In-House Residential Care offset by planned delays in recruiting to vacant posts within Assessment and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63

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 October, 2013. 

It was reported that the forecast for the financial year 2013/14 was an overspend of £1.366M against an approved net revenue budget of £72.809M. 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

·         A slight underspend based on estimated charges including training

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 planned delays 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 47 clients receiving a service than forecast. 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 a delay on the 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 reduced due to additional Continuing Health Care funding and 1 client moving out of the area

·         High cost Community Support placements resulting in forecast overspend

·         Delay in developing Supported Living Schemes plus additional funding from Health resulting in a forecast underspend

·         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

·         Additional staffing costs and essential repairs within In-House Residential Care offset by planned delays in recruiting to vacant posts within Assessment and Care Management

Mental Health

·         Projected overspend on Residential Care budget due to a slippage on budget savings target plan to move clients into  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56