Agenda item

This report presents the 2008/09 budget proposals for Housing and Adult Social Services and asks Members to provide comments for submission to the Budget Executive on 12 February 2008.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Members be advised to note and refer to the Executive the concerns recorded above, together with the following budget proposals:

(i)         the 2008/09 Base Budget as set out in paragraph 7 of the report;

(ii)               the service pressure proposals set out in Annex 2;

(iii)       the savings set out in Annex 3.

(iv)              the fees and charges set out in Annex 4.

(v)                the other revenue budget options for consultation set out in Annex 5.

(vi)       the options for new capital schemes in Annex 7.

(vii)            the Housing Revenue Budget set out in Annex 8

Decision of the Executive Members

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:      As part of the consultation for the 2008/09 budget setting process.

Members considered a report which presented the 2008/09 budget proposals for Housing and Adult Social Services, including:

• the revenue budget for 2007/08, showing existing budgets (Annex 1)
• the budget adjusted and rolled forward from 2007/08 into 2008/09
• the provisional allocation of pay and price increases for the portfolio
• officer proposals for budget service pressure costs and savings options for the portfolio area (Annexes 2 and 3)
• fees and charges proposals (Annex 4)
• other revenue budget options for consultation (Annex 5)

• the existing approved capital programme (Annex 6)
• options for new capital schemes (Annex 7)
• the Housing Revenue Account (Annex 8).

A summary of the General Fund budget proposals was provided in Table 1 in paragraph 7 of the report. As proposals for savings/growth currently being considered by the individual EMAP meetings would not result in a balanced budget, Executive Members were required to consider alternative options.  Members were asked for their comments or alternative suggestions, as part of the consultation process, on the proposals shown in Annexes 2, 3, 5 and 7, which would be considered by the Executive.  Comments were sought in particular on the items listed for consultation in Annexes 5 and 7, which did not at present form part of the intended budget.  Options had been shared in outline with representatives of users of adult social services and carers.  They had expressed opposition to raising the threshold for eligibility for social care and to differential charging, and concerns over charging levels already being high in York.

Members sought clarity in particular on the implications of proposals to:

• Reduce Home Care hours (Annex 3, HSMS3, HSMS4, HSMS)
• Increase Discretionary Charges for Day Care (Annex 4)
• Increase eligibility criteria for care services (Annex 5, HSHS11A)
• Increase income from charges by removing the disregard of disability related benefit (Annex 5, HSHS9)
• Reduce the number of homeless casework / prevention workers (Annex 5, HSHS13)
• Reconfigure the early intervention and prevention contract (HSHS14)

In response to Members’ queries and to issues raised under Public Participation, Officers confirmed that:

• Home Care did not include personal care and the reduced hours would not affect the service to customers.  Detailed work on these proposals (including consultation with staff) was still ongoing. 
• The increased Day Care charges would still be less than those charged by some other authorities – details would be circulated to Members.
• They shared the concerns expressed proposals HSHS 13 and HSHS14 but had been required to look at all areas to achieve savings.

The Labour Group Members indicated that they wished to reserve their position on the budget at this stage.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Members be advised to note and refer to the Executive the concerns recorded above, together with the following budget proposals:¹

(i)                 the 2008/09 Base Budget as set out in paragraph 7 of the report;

(ii)               the service pressure proposals set out in Annex 2;

(iii)             the savings set out in Annex 3.

(iv)              the fees and charges set out in Annex 4.

(v)                the other revenue budget options for consultation set out in Annex 5.

(vi)              the options for new capital schemes in Annex 7.

(vii)            the Housing Revenue Budget set out in Annex 8

Decision of the Executive Members

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:      As part of the consultation for the 2008/09 budget setting process.