Issue - meetings

To consider the questions raised by members at the Budget Scrutiny meeting held on 5^th January 2011.

The Committee received the budget proposals for 2011/12 to 2013/14 introduced by the Council Leader, Councillor Claire Kober who emphasised the Council’s intention to transform services as a result of the unprecedented reduction in local government funding.

In response to a question about sharing services the Leader explained that the announcement of the reductions had halted the plans of some boroughs to join functions; when public services funding was cut councils needed to focus on their budgets and changes in structures and ways of working rather than other agendas.

The Committee asked supplementary questions to those raised at the Budget Scrutiny meeting held on 5^th January 2011.  The responses are recorded below.

Re. Q1 – Adult Social Care – Reduced Contributions from NHS

The Committee noted that the deficit position of the Primary Care Trust (PCT) would continue into next year as the PCTs merged. Council Leaders met regularly to discuss the situation and the Council had an honest dialogue with NHS Haringey although there were challenges on the part of both agencies regarding funding.

Re. Q4 & Q5 – Adult Social Care Transition and Children & Young People Service (CYPS) Demographic Pressures

The Leader confirmed that the £4 million investment in Children’s Services next year was due to the 172 additional children in care; there were also 16 additional children on child protection plans.  More children requiring services were expected to move into Haringey when the housing benefits system changed in April 2011 and there would be associated legal costs. 

The Committee noted that Ofsted had approved the Council’s child protection thresholds and that the Leader had written to the Minister for Children & Families about Haringey’s unique situation and the impact of the reduced local government funding settlement.

The Committee was informed that the Council had put in place the Local Preventative Strategy with the PCT and the Police including a series of measures to help prevent children and families coming into the system in the future.  It was reported that research showed that two years of such measures would result in significant service cost reductions.  The Council was also recruiting more foster carers to reduce the cost of agency carers.

Re: Q5 – CYPS – increased legal cost budgets

The Committee requested benchmarking information on legal costs per child safeguarding case. (Action No. 159)

Re. Q9 – Inflation

A copy of the working paper analysing the inflation provision would be circulated to the Committee and Councillor Gorrie (Action No. 159.1). 

Re: Q10 – NLWA – Increase in Landfill Tax

The Committee noted that the cost of recycling increased each year and that from April 2011 the Council’s recycling contractors would be responsible for raising awareness of recycling.  The Council would judge the contractors on resident perception and recycling performance.

Re. Q11 – Concessionary Fares

The Committee noted that, due to a change in the method of apportioning costs across London, the total cost to Haringey was now based on usage by Borough residents and this had led to an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 159