Return to Agenda

ITEM EX5

EXECUTIVE – 17 APRIL 2002

SOCIAL SERVICES BUDGET 2002/03

Report by Director of Social Services and Director for Business Support & County Treasurer

Introduction

1. At the meeting of the Executive on 19 March, a report on the Social Services budget identified that projected spending next year, based on current levels of activity (the bottom up budget), exceeded the resources allocated by the Council in February by £8.9m. The exercise to identify a bottom up budget was necessary because expenditure was out of line with the budget following a number of years of incremental budgeting and service cuts. This was recognised within the FINE report into financial management.
2. The report identified proposals to reduce service levels to within the available resources. The Council will have considered the budget proposals for Social Services at the meeting on 2 April (with the debate on the Social Services budget adjourned until 9 April). Included within the budget proposals were reductions in three broad areas where a further re-allocation to specific services was required. This report addresses that re-allocation.

Learning Disabilities

3. The budget proposal for the County Council included a further reduction of £700K. The current proposal is to amend the proposed reductions as follows:

	Executive 19 March £000	Additional Reductions £000	Total Reductions £000
Care Managers Purchasing Budget	640	350	990
Contracts	40	350	390
Total	780	700	1480

4. All service users and carers will be re-assessed against existing criteria and care plans adjusted accordingly. It is anticipated there will be a reduction in the overall level of service received, i.e. home support, day services, help with transport etc. Some of this will affect purchasing contracts which will be reduced in line with the new level of purchasing.
5. All re-assessments will ensure that basic levels of care to ensure personal safety, hygiene etc., are met. Reductions are anticipated in support to help people extend their potential, access leisure and social activities etc.

Mental Health

6. The budget proposed for services for people with mental health problems included a general reduction of £250K. The current proposal is to achieve these reductions in service by adjusting contracts for the provision of residential services for Adults At Risk. Negotiations are well advanced with key providers in Oxfordshire to move to alternative funding through Transitional Housing Benefit.
7. There is a high degree of confidence in these contract changes being achieved and it will have no direct impact on service users.

  Support Services

8. The budget proposed for support services included a general reduction of £150K, including a reduction in small grants. It is proposed to reduce small grants by £10,000. The balance of the reduction will be achieved by operating a vacancy provision within support services. This may result in delays in providing support services to the operational divisions of the Department.

Consultation

9. The report to the Executive on 19 March contained details of the proposals to reduce funding and for service activity to be brought within the resources available to Social Services. An Annex to the report gave details of the possible service implications. In many cases the proposed reductions were just that, proposals. Where consideration is being given to closure of some establishments, the Council must undertake appropriate consultation before any final decisions are taken. Similarly, where it is necessary to change the eligibility for services, appropriate consultation will be carried out prior to taking any decision. Generally there is recognition that full consultation with any affected staff and UNISON is important.
10. In all cases where consultation was required about possible reduction in service levels, allowance was made within the budget reductions for the consequent delays. However, the actual delay could potentially be longer than planned, or indeed the Executive may decide not to reduce the level of service in the way proposed. In these circumstances there may be a risk that the budget will not be delivered.
11. No provision has been made for redundancy costs within the proposals. There is an expectation that such costs will be minimal as there is an expectation that staff will be redeployed. Where such costs do materialise the expectation is that capital receipts generated during the year can fund them.

Budget Working Group

12. It is proposed that a member/officer budget working group for Social Services will continue to meet on a monthly basis during the forthcoming year. A meeting is planned for next week which will consider the measures being taken to deliver the budget.

RECOMMENDATION

13. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to agree the proposed service reductions contained in paragraphs 3, 6 and 8 of the report, subject to consideration of any responses to consultation on individual proposals.

MARY ROBERTSON
Director of Social Services

CHRIS GRAY
Director for Business Support & County Treasurer