Agenda item

This report sets out the projected 2023/24 financial position and the performance position for the period covering 1 April 2023 to 31 December 2023. This is the third report of the financial year and assesses performance against budgets, including progress in delivering the Council’s savings programme.

Officers introduced a report outlining finance and performance information for quarter 3, covering the Health, Housing and Adult Social Care service areas. It was noted that the Council was facing significant financial pressures, especially across Adult Social Care.

Members enquired about the general budgetary position. It was confirmed that historically overspends had reduced through the financial year but owing to additional costs due to inflation, increased utilities and staffing costs, and narrowing opportunities to offset and save, this had not happened in 2023/24. Identified savings would need to be delivered successfully to balance the budget for the next financial year.

The Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities was in attendance and joined the committee’s discussion on the Housing finance and performance information. Members discussed the figures for rough sleeping and void properties. With reference to the increased number of rough sleepers, it was noted that the move from annual to quarterly figures likely represented a more accurate reflection of the numbers of rough sleepers. Council Navigators were responsible for trying to get people back into services, and everyone known to them was engaged with, including those who had been excluded from hostels or other premises. It was confirmed that all available beds, including emergency and severe weather beds, were generally always full. With reference to void premises, it was confirmed that there had been a significant focus on reducing these following abnormal spikes in the numbers of voids in September and January; additional resources were being used to clear these to reduce the housing waiting list and increase revenue.

Members also discussed the finance and performance information relating to Adult Social Care. Officers confirmed that due to non-savings in previous years, budgetary growth had been eaten up by inflationary pressures. Significant reductions were needed in the price paid to providers in the independent sector, in the number of people commissioned services were provided to, and in the amount of service provided. Work on this was underway, including a new practice model, improved assurance processes, and the re-procurement of reablement services. Managers were highly conscientious around the financial position, but savings needed to be balanced against statutory duties and the provision of safe and sustainable care. With reference to residential care, it was confirmed that beds were block-purchased from the independent sector; bed use was closely monitored and vacancies could be recouped. Work was also being done in Home Care to get people onto more reasonably priced provision.

The committee enquired about the public health data in the report. It was confirmed that ward-level data helped address local health inequalities, and benchmark figures would be included in future reports. With reference to other indicators, it was confirmed that only one in ten new births did not receive a face-to-face visit from a health visitor within 14 days, compared to one in three in 2021/22; these figures reflected variables including specific health needs and safeguarding concerns. It was noted that ONS figures on life expectancy were published with a time lag, and that concerns over healthy life expectancy had grown over the last decade, with female life expectancy tending to reverse more quickly than male. Although the indicator for HIV late diagnosis had increased, the numbers of individuals diagnosed were in single figures. Treatments had progressed and levels of transmission for those on new antiviral medication were virtually nil, and while there was concern over this indicator it represented the difficult end of a historic problem.

Resolved:    That the committee note the the finance and performance information.

Reason:       To ensure expenditure is kept within the approved budget.

[The meeting adjourned for a comfort break from 19:30 – 19:38].