Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meetings held on 6^th and 22^nd December, 2010.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meetings held on 6^th and 22^nd December, 2010 be approved as a correct record.

Consideration was given to a report introduced by Mark Scarrott, Finance Manager, which provided a financial forecast for the Adult Services Department within the Neighbourhoods and Adult Services Directorate to the end of March, 2011 based on actual income and expenditure to the end of November, 2010. 

The forecast for the financial year 2010/11 was an overall balanced budget against the revised approved net revenue budget of £71.3 million. The revenue budget and financial projection took into account in year savings contributions by Adult Services of £868k (total for the Neighbourhoods and Adult Services Directorate was £1.140 million) towards the overall Council’s in year budget pressures as agreed by the Cabinet on 17th November, 2010.

The report set out the current position for the Department with a summary of the overall financial projection for each main client group both against original approved budget and the revised budget approved by the Cabinet.

To mitigate any further financial pressures within the service budget meetings with Service Directors and Managers were continuing to be held on a monthly basis to monitor financial performance against the revised approved budget and ensure expenditure was within this revised budget.

It was noted that any costs associated with voluntary early retirements and voluntary severance payments were met centrally and not from Adult Services’ budgets.

A discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were raised and clarification provided by the Strategic Director of Neighbourhoods and Adult Services and the Director of Health and Wellbeing:-

·              Day care transport, usage, increasing costs, efficiency and future options.

·              Recruitment of key staff and meal provision in day centres.

·              Underlying budget pressures offset by a number of forecasted underspends.

·              Circumstances and unpredictable elements around forecasted underspends, which should result in a balanced budget by year end.

·              Excellent performance and ability of staff to meet the needs of the Borough within the budget allocation.

·              Increased pressure on independent home care within Physical and Sensory Disability Services.

·              Social Work staff recruitment, redeployment and vacancy management.

·              Forecasted overspend on Direct Payments across all client groups.

·              Expenditure on agency staff and the proportion off contract.

·              Close monitoring of financial performance against the approved budget with Managers.

·              Excellent response by staff during the period of inclement weather.

·              Outcome of the Health White Paper and the negotiations taking place between the Council and the Primary Care Trust.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the latest financial projection against budget for the year based on actual income and expenditure to the end of November, 2010 for Adult Services be noted.

(2)  That staff be congratulated on their efforts in keeping costs within the approved budget.