Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd June, 2009 be approved as a correct record.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

Mark Scarrott, Finance Manager (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 2010 based on actual income and expenditure to the end of May 2009.

The approved net revenue budget for Adult Services for 2009/10 is £72.9m which included additional funding for demographic and existing budget pressures together with a number of new investments and efficiency savings identified through the 2009/10 budget setting process.

The first budget monitoring report showed some underlying pressures of £256,000, however management actions were currently being identified to mitigate these budget pressures.

The latest year end forecast showed there were potential underlying budget pressures on Direct Payments, within Physical and Sensory Disabilities and Older People’s Services due to increased numbers.  These were being monitored closely.  Additional one-off expenditure was being incurred in respect of security costs for the former residential care homes prior to transferring to the Council’s property bank.  Other budget pressures were due to delays in the implementation of budget savings agreed as part of the budget setting process for 2009/10 in respect of laundry and meals on wheels.

These pressures had been reduced by additional income from continuing health care funding from Health for placements within Learning Disability Services.  Savings within independent residential care due to an increase in the number of discharges, further savings on the reconfiguration of extra care housing and slippage in recruitment to a number of new posts where additional funding was agreed within the budget process.  Further management actions were being identified within the Directorate to contain expenditure within the approved budget.

To ease the financial pressures within the service all vacancies continued to require the approval of the Service Directors.  Budget meetings with Service Directors and managers had been arranged on a monthly basis to monitor financial performance against approved budget and consider potential options for managing expenditure within budget.

A question and answer session ensued and following issues were raised:-

• When was Rothwel Grange to be de-commissioned?  It was confirmed that this would happen in December 2009 unless 10 vacancies can be established at Davies Court before then.
• What steps were being taken to ensure that there wasn’t another overspend as had happened in previous years.  It was confirmed that monthly performance clinics had been arranged in order to monitor the situation.  Problems had arisen the previous year due to the delays in implementing shifting the balance. 
• Members asked for a breakdown cost analysis in respect of quality of care.  Confirmation was given that there would be a similar exercise undertaken in respect of quality of care as had been done for home from home.  Once this work had commenced it was agreed that a report would be brought to a future meeting.
• A request was made for an update report in relation to Meals on Wheels to the next meeting.

Resolved:- (1) That the latest financial projection against budget for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 (as amended March 2006) 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 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

Tim Gollins, Acting Strategic Commissioning Manager presented the submitted report which detailed the recent history of Highfields and described the current position.  The Cabinet Member was asked to decide whether to continue the current contract, or alternatively, to terminate it in accordance with contract clause 13.5 (m).

Resolved:- (1) That the decision of the Care Quality Commission not to pursue actions against the owner be noted.

(2) That the decision of the police not to take any action against the owner by noted.

(3) That the contract with the owner be terminated.