Agenda item

Mark Scarrott, Finance Manager (Adult Services) presented the submitted report which informed members of the anticipated outturn against the approved Adult Services capital programme for the 2009/10 financial year.

It provided detail of the approved capital programme for the Adult Services department of the Neighbourhoods and Adult Services Directorate, actual expenditure for the period April 2009 to 15^th January 2010 and the projected final outturn position for each scheme.

Actual expenditure to the mid January 2010 was £477k against a revised programme of £1.2m for 2009/10. Total funding of £480k had been carried forward into 2010/11 since the last report. 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 following information provided a brief summary of the latest position on the main projects within each client group.

Older People

The two new residential care homes opened in February 2009. The balance of funding (£230k) related to outstanding fees and the cost of any final minor works.  

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. A procurement plan to spend the remaining NHSR funding was currently being finalised and would now be procured in 2010/11. The RMBC funding was approved and included the purchase of lifeline connect alarms, low temperature sensors and fall detectors within peoples homes.

A small element of the Department of Health specific grant (£13.5k) issued in 2007/08 to improve the environment within residential care provision was carried forward into 2009/10.  The remaining balance of funding was being spent within in-house residential care services.

Learning Disabilities

The small balances of funding (£10k) carried forward from 2008/09 were to be used for the purchase of equipment for Parkhill Lodge and within existing supported living schemes.

The refurbishment at Addison Day Centre (Phase 2) was now complete and awaiting final invoices.

Since the last report a new scheme to refurbish the respite centre at Treefields had been approved from the Councils Strategic Maintenance Investments fund and would be completed in early May 2010. 

Mental Health

A small balance remains 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 continued to be identified and spending plans were being developed jointly with RDASH.  The possibility of funding equipment purchased for direct payments was also being considered to reduce the current pressures on the mental health revenue budgets and was included as a management action (£50k). Further options were also being considered to provide more intensive supported living schemes with a range of providers and to fund a range of new assistive technologies for mental health clients, which would support their independence with access to 24 hour support.

Management Information

The balance of the capital grant allocation (£85k) for Adult Social Care IT infrastructure was carried forward from 2008-09 and used with this years grant allocation to fund the Adults Integrated Solution as part of introducing electronic care management.

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

·        Concerns were expressed in respect of the monies being transferred to the 2010/2011 budget in respect of Telehealth and Telecare equipment and a query was raised as to why the money had not yet been spent.  Confirmation was given that this was NHS funding and they were responsible for making decisions in respect of this.

·        A query was raised as to whether the two new residential homes were now fully occupied.  It was confirmed that at the recent Contracting for Care Forum confirmation had been given that both homes were fully occupied.

·        The Cabinet Member asked for more detail in respect of the refurbishment at Treefields to be included in the next report.

The Cabinet Member reported that contracts had now been signed for the Carers Centre on Drummond Street.  The building was in good condition and it was hoped that it would be ready for its official opening by 25^th March 2010.

Resolved:- (1) That the Adult Services forecast capital outturn for 2009/10 be received and noted.

(2) That Councillor Doyle receive a report on the detail of the refurbishment programme at Treefields.