Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting held on 17th November 2008 be approved as a correct record.

Resolved:- That approval be given for Councillor F Hodgkiss to attend the “Future Years” meeting in Leeds on 8th December 2008.

Mark Scarrott, Service Accountant (Adult Services) presented the submitted report which provided a financial forecast for the Adult Services Department within the Neighbourhoods and Adult Services Directorate to the end of March 2009 based on actual income and expenditure to the end of October 2008.

The approved net revenue budget for 2008/09 was £68.5m which included funding for demographic and existing budget pressures together with a number of efficiency savings identified through the 2008/09 budget setting process. 

The report showed that there were budget pressures, with a projected net overspend of £262,000 (+0.38%), to the year end, after factoring in a number of management actions to mitigate these pressures.

The latest year end projections showed there were the following main budget pressures:-

• Direct Payments (£186k), within Physical and Sensory Disabilities and Mental Health services.  Performance was on track to exceed the target which if achieved would lever £360k in Performance Reward Grant funding for the Council in March 2009
• Additional unforeseen placements into residential care for clients with Physical and Sensory Disabilities (£145k: a net increase of 7 placements)
• Overspends within employees budgets (£260k) including increased use of in-house residential care bank staff and an overspend within domiciliary care management and administration teams over and above budget
• Pressures had also been identified in respect of increased energy costs (£194k) within residential and day centres.  The increase in energy costs was being monitored across all directorates within the Council.
• The above pressures were being partially offset by additional income from continuing health care placements (£523k)

The latest financial forecast assumed the full savings identified in the budget setting process for 2008/09 in respect of shifting the balance of home care provision from in-house to the independent sector.  The implementation of this was currently experiencing delays due to further consultation and negotiation with the Trade Unions and employees.  It was likely that these delays would increase the forecast overspend.  This was being monitored closely and further work was being undertaken to both quantify and minimise any additional pressure on the budget.

The report also assumed full decommissioning of the five residential care homes into the two new homes by the end of December in accordance with the planned timetable.  Any delays would impact on current financial projections and any further impact on budget would be reported as soon as they were identified.

Budget clinics with Service Directors and managers were now taking place on a monthly basis to monitor financial performance against approved budget and to consider further options for managing expenditure within budget.

A question and answer session ensued and the following issues were discussed:-

• The delays in the implementation of “shifting the balance” were partly due to high sickness levels within Home Care which was resulting in an increase in the level of overtime and therefore putting further pressure on the budget. Members were concerned about this and asked what had been done to overcome this problem.  A request was made for a report to be presented to a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

John Mansergh, Service Performance Manager presented the submitted report which outlined the 2008/09 key performance indicator 2^nd quarter results for the Adult Services elements of the Directorate.

At the end of the quarter, 73% (19) key performance indicators were on track to achieve their year end targets.  This compared to 64% the previous year.

There were 7 indicators which were rated as “off” target which were:

·        C32 – Older People helped to live at home

·        C29 – People with physical disabilities helped to live at home

·        C62 – Services for Carers

·        D55 – Acceptable waiting times for an assessment

·        D39 – Statement of need

·        C73 – Younger adults admitted to residential or nursing care

·        NI132 – Timeliness of Social Care assessment (all adults)

Kim Curry, Director of Commissioning and Partnerships updated members on the progress made in relation to safeguarding.  She reported that there was an inspection pending.  A team had been set up to manage the ten social workers and this team would be responsible for the investigation.  Members requested that a report be presented to the Scrutiny Panel for Adult Services and Health in relation to the investigation.

Resolved:- (1) That the results and the remedial actions in place to improve performance be noted.

(2)  That a report be presented to the Scrutiny Panel for Adult Services and Health in relation to the safeguarding investigation.

Linda Haynes, Assistant Manager from RAIN and Jeanette Mallinder gave an update in relation to the Carers Information Centre.

Jeanette reported that it was essential that more resources and assistance was given to support the Carers Information Centre as funding was due to cease at the end of December 2008.  She highlighted the benefits that the centre provided to carers throughout Rotherham and urged members to ensure that it remained open.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

Jackie Bickerstaffe, Head of Learning Disability Service presented the submitted report in relation to Park Lea Day Services.

The report summarised the reasons why Park Lea was not suitable as a long term base and set out proposals for the future of the service which was currently provided at Park Lea.

Resolved:- (1) That the transfer of services from Park Lea to other community bases and the action plan outlined in Section 8 be considered.

(2) That the content of the report be noted.

(3) That a further report be presented to the Cabinet Member following the consultation exercise.

Resolved:- That the next meeting be held on Monday 15th December 2008 commencing at 10.00 am.