Agenda item

Mark Scarrott, Service Accountant (Adult Services) presented the submitted report which informed members of the anticipated outturn against the approved Adult Services capital programme for the 2008/09 financial year.

Actual expenditure to mid November 2008 was £7.2m against an approved annual programme of £9.8m.  The approved schemes were funded from a variety of different funding sources including, unsupported borrowing, allocations from the capital receipts, Supported Capital Expenditure and specific capital grant funding. 

The overall programme was currently forecasting to underspend by £8.5k.  The report provided a brief summary of the latest position on the main projects within each client group.

Older People

The construction of the two new residential homes was now complete and the timetable for full decommissioning of existing homes into the two new homes was expected to be completed by the end of December.

The Assistive Technology Grant (which included funding from NHS Rotherham) was being managed jointly and was being used to purchase Telehealth and Telecare equipment to enable people to live in their own homes.  The appointment of a project manager had resulted in a review being carried out together with NHS Rotherham and an agreement in principle that the funding would be used to procure lifeline connect alarms, low temperature sensors and fall detectors in peoples homes.

A small element of the Department of Health specific grant (£20k) issued in 2007/08 to improve the environment within residential care provision was carried forward into 2008/09.  The balance of grant was being allocated across the independent residential care sector in accordance with the grant conditions and would be fully spent in 2008/09.

Learning Disabilities

The small balances of funding carried forward from 2007/08 were to be used for the equipment for Parkhill Lodge and within supported living schemes.

The refurbishment at Addison Day Centre, funded from the Council’s Strategic Maintenance Investment fund was now complete.

There had been delays in the start of the refurbishment of the REACH Day centre due to insufficient funding.  Fund had now been identified and the project was due to be completed by March 2009.

Mental Health

A small balance remained on the Cedar House capital budget and would be used for the purchase of additional equipment.  A large proportion of the Supported Capital Expenditure (SCE) allocation had been carried forward from previous years due to difficulties in finding suitable accommodation for the development of supported living schemes.  Suitable properties were being identified and spending plans were being developed.  The possibility of funding equipment purchased for direct payments was also being considered to reduce the current pressures on the revenue budgets.  Further options were also being considered to provide more intensive supported living schemes with a range of providers.

Management Information

Part of the capital grant for Improving Management Information was carried forward into 2008/09.  The funding had been earmarked to further develop Electronic Social Care Records within Health and Social Care working with the Council’s strategic partner RBT and Children and Young People’s Services.  At the end of August the Department of Health announced a new capital grant for Adult Social Care IT infrastructure over the next three years (£276k).  Spending plans were still being developed with RBT to integrate social care information across both health and social care.

Resolved:- That the Adult Services forecast capital outturn for 2008/09 be received and noted.