Agenda item

[Report of the Assistant Director for  Commissioning. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Culture.]As set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy, the Council is considering withdrawing subsidy from the Meals on Wheels Service. This report presents the findings of the public consultation and in light of these makes recommendations on the budget proposal to end the subsidy for meals on wheels.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Culture introduced the report which outlined the outcome of the consultation on the proposed withdrawal of the meals on wheels’ subsidy. The report recommended the withdrawal of the subsidy for the meals on wheels’ scheme and also considered the mitigations that would be put in place to support users following withdrawal of the subsidy.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Culture responded to questions from Councillor Engert and Cllr Ejiofor. The following information was noted.

• The saving had been delayed as alternative savings had been identified to fill the temporary gap, but the savings to the base budget were still required.

• All the 110 users would receive an assessment review and support plan to ensure they were supported to get the best alternative option for delivery of their meals.

RESOLVED

1. To take into account the detailed feedback of the consultation undertaken with users of the Meals on Wheels service, as set out in appendices 1 and 2 of this report.

2. To take into account the equality impact assessment of the proposals on the protected groups, i.e. service users, and the proposed mitigations in appendix 3.

3. To approve the withdrawal of the subsidy for the Meals on Wheels service.

4. To approve the future service arrangement with the Council acting as a facilitator and navigator and helping service users to decide which community alternatives meal options available they want to take up.

Reasons for decision

In delivering the Corporate Plan, the Council aims to enable all adults to lead healthy, long and fulfilling lives through a strong emphasis on promoting independence, personalisation and choice and control. There is no statutory requirement for local authorities to fund the costs of food or meals directly and a significant proportion of other Councils have withdrawn from delivering or subsidising a meals service over the past five years or so.

The current arrangements for meals on wheels, where a subsidy is paid by the Council towards the cost of each meal delivered through a contract with an external supplier, are taken up by approximately 110 users at any one time. This is a significant reduction from the 300 users accessing the service in 2010 reflecting changing user preferences and habits.

There has been no increase in client contributions to the service since 2012/13 and the contribution has only increased by 20p per meal from £3.20 to £3.40 since 2010. However, as the volume of meals has decreased the cost of the meals has increased each year with a standard meal now costing £7.60. The Council now contributes at least £4.20 as subsidy towards the cost, costing the Council over £140,000 each year.

The responses to the consultation demonstrate that the vast majority of users disagreed with the proposal to withdraw the subsidy and highly value the current subsidised meals on wheels’ service. However, half of respondents indicated that they would be able to afford to pay more than the current contribution level with 39% indicating that they would be able to afford the full cost of available hot meal delivery options. The service is one of many provisions available to residents with support and care needs and not able to prepare food for themselves in Haringey and only a limited number of people benefit from the existing service, however it is recognised that the recommendations would result in an increase in the cost of a hot meal delivery service.

The proposals would strengthen the Council’s statutory role to ensure access to a meal and to act as a facilitator and navigator, helping the individual to decide which meals option of the community alternatives available they want to take up. The proposals set out in this paper enable the Council to make savings and to build a more sustainable community offer to more residents, as part of offering choice to residents in need of support to access a daily hot meal. The Council does not intend to promote one option but to ensure a number of ways of accessing a regular hot meal are in place and to work with users to make the choice which best meets their needs. For existing users of the service the Council will support each individual to choose the most suitable alternative option and ensure that we continue to meet the assessed needs and outcomes.

Alternative options considered

Continuing with the current arrangements has been considered but rejected as the payment of the subsidy is not sustainable and only a limited number of users benefit from a hot meal. In addition, neither the Care Act nor preceding legislation require meals to be subsidised or the cost of food to be met by the Council. Haringey Council is the only borough in North Central London which still offers a subsidised Meals on Wheels service. Islington, Camden and Enfield ended their direct provision of Meals on Wheels services in 2011 and Barnet in 2015.

Consideration was given to withdrawing the subsidy whilst not building and signposting community based alternatives. This, however, was rejected as the development of a strong, community offer supports the wider Priority 2 objectives of choice, control and independence and meets the wider Council aspirations to build a stronger community in the borough.