Issue - meetings

To update Members on the financial planning position and to consider the Pre Business Plan Reviews (PBPR) 2010/11 to 2012/13.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee requests for further information and answers will be circulated separately.  

Adult Social Care and Wellbeing

In respect of request 2 the Committee requested that all Ward Councillors be provided with a briefing note on the planned Home Care budget reductions and the impact that the loss of the Supporting People budget was likely to have upon this.  It was noted that consultation with the Third Sector would be essential in ensuring that their Services were fully utilised and provided value for money..

It was confirmed that in addition to the usual quality checks Councillors also carried out ad hoc visits to ensure that the quality of placements was to the standard expected (request 69).

The Committee was advised that the figures and projections used to plan services for people with dementia were agreed with NHS Haringey (request 70).  

The Committee asked for a briefing note on the impact on Haringey of a new Government initiative for caring for the elderly (to be paid for out of efficiency savings) and the measures that were being taken by the Council to mitigate this (request 71).

It was confirmed the numbers of Looked After Children moving into adult social care were monitored to ensure that the relevant funding was transferred to Adult Social Services (request 72). 

In respect of request 73 the Committee highlighted concerns about cuts to services for asylum seekers and asked that a detailed briefing note be provided including the percentage of the overall decline in asylum seekers and what this reduction meant in monetary terms and why the monetary savings were not higher given a reduction of 28 clients being supported.

The Committee noted the Adult Social Care and Wellbeing pre-business plan review and made the following recommendations:

i)          The Cabinet give an assurance that carers and clients would not be disadvantaged by this proposal and that there would be alternative methods of support provided, including extra home care, to ensure independent living.

ii)         The Cabinet confirm that the proposal will not take services away from those who need it and that adequate access to advice and funding will be maintained.

Housing

With respect to request 74 the Committee was advised that the restructuring of the Strategic Housing Service was being implemented. Each post had been reviewed and re-evaluated and recruitment had begun. The implementation of the restructuring of the Service would decrease the reliance on temporary staff.  

There was discussion with respect to request 75 and pre agreed savings of £221K the Committee was advised that this sum was needed in order to deliver on targets with respect to reducing the use of Temporary Accommodation. 

The Committee requested that further information was supplied with respect to requests 66 and 67.

In relation to request 76 the Committee asked for a more detailed briefing note including an analysis of current spending, numbers of leases usually renewed and how much was currently in the base budget.

The Committee asked for a detailed briefing note on what benefits the proposed investment of £769k (request 77) would bring to the Council,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19