Agenda item

To consider a report setting out the projected 2024/25 financial position and the performance position for the period covering 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024. This is the second report of the financial year and assesses performance against budgets, including progress in delivering the Council’s savings programme.

Members considered a report setting out the projected 2024/25 financial position and performance position for the period covering 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024.

Officers provided an overview and responded to questions from the committee. It was noted that:

·       With reference to the results from the 2023-24 Regulator for Social Housing return, it was agreed that officers would provide members with a link to this information on the York Open Data platform.

·       A project was underway to secure savings in Adult Social Care through a strength-based approach to the current review backlog.

·       With reference to the table at paragraph 23, clarification was sought on the figures for Forecast Outturn Variance for Direct Payments. Officers agreed to provide this to members and to include a breakdown of the number of people being supported in each service category in future reports.

·       Clarification would be provided to members on the percentage increase the average weekly cost per direct payment of £137 represented. It was also noted that a project was underway on Direct Payments to review policies and practice, taking a co-production approach with recipients and their families.

·       With reference to the primary drivers of Adult Social Care overspend, it was noted that the main challenge in York was the cost per unit of support paid to external providers, who faced challenges around the living wage, inflationary cost of living pressures, and the upcoming National Insurance changes. A presentation summarising the main costs and pressures within Adult Social Care would be shared with members separately, and officers would explore what could be done to reasons for overspend/underspend in each section in future reports.

·       Officers had been advised that the Council would be compensated for increased employer National Insurance contributions for in-house staff, but full details were still awaited. Engagement was underway with social care providers and the Association of Directors of Adult Social services (ADASS) to assess the likely impact of the changes and what support the Council could offer; it was essential that the best value duty was met and good value was offered to citizens for every penny spent.

·       The Council generally did well in terms of efficiency and outcomes, with York rated top by a recent efficiency tool, and comparable data was available for other local authorities; although local circumstances varied. It was important to continue challenging and analysing performance through surveys and other data collection.

·       Members expressed concern over the direction of travel of three Public Health performance indicators included in the annex to the report, on the percentage of face-to-face new birth visits undertaken by a health visitor after 14 days, the percentage of eligible population aged 40-74 who received an NHS Health Check, and the percentage of non-opiate users in treatment who successfully completed drug treatment (without representation within 6 months), and it was agreed to request more information on these from the Director of Public Health.

Resolved:

                i.                    To note the finance and performance information.

              ii.                    To note that work will continue on identifying savings needed to fully mitigate the forecast overspend.

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