Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Liz Rijnenberg, Josie Ewing, Benjamine Breeze, Little Brighouse, Emma Palmer (Chief Executive Officer) and Gavin Williams (Senior Manager – Care and Support).

To receive declarations of interest from Members.

There were no Declarations of Interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

To receive disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

(NB:  Members are reminded that, under Section 78, Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on a matter before the Committee.)

The Committee did not receive any disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member had been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

(i)             To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the previous meeting held as follows as a correct record:

(a)  1^st December 2023

(ii)       To receive and consider the Action Log.

The approval of the draft minutes of the meeting held 1^st December 2023 were postponed to the next meeting.

Children’s Services

Documents Considered:

• Draft Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2024-2029
• Draft 2024-25 Budget
• Capital Programme for 2024-2029
• Children’s Services Budget/FRM presentation
• Impact Assessment:
  • Reduction in allocated Short Breaks Budget

Background:

·       The Head of Children’s Services provided a presentation explaining cost pressures held at risk, and cost reductions planned for the next financial year. The presentation slides would be made available to view as part of the agenda pack.

Actions:

·       To add the following items to the Forward Work Programme:

o   Request for Health and Care Scrutiny Committee to review the Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) allocation process.

o   To review the actual cost of the proposed modelled average cost savings relating to UASC placements.

o   Children’s Services to provide an update relating to the cost pressures around recruiting additional staff for residential homes caring for children with complex needs, once the forward planning work had been completed

o   Health and Care Scrutiny Committee to be provided with the number of newly-qualified social workers due to join the Service within the year, who studied through the Council’s Grow Our Own social worker programme.

Observations:

The Committee noted, observed, requested that: 

·       Clarification was received in respect to the cost per child for UASC placements, over and above the funding provided by the Home Office and how the impact on Powys’ budget compared with other councils.  

·       It was agreed that UASC placements would be a future item for scrutiny and would be added to the upcoming agenda.  

·       Greater clarity was received around the Assured Savings figure of £955,850 and how further savings identified in Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 in 2023-2024 affected this and any other associated figures in the budget proposals. 

·       Officers replied to a query around why Early Help was presented as a pressure and whether there was an associated cost reduction. It was explained due to the increased demand post-pandemic, the team would be restructured. 

·       Clarity and further details were requested regarding the £200,000 pressure around the need to increase staffing in Residential settings. 

·       Work was ongoing for projections for 2025-2026 in respect of savings available from budget areas such as; Placements, 16+ Accommodation, and the reduction in Agency staff etc., which would be made available to the Committee. 

·       Officers provided clarification on the utilisation of the COVID workforce grant and explained the significant impacts if the grant were to reduce or cease. 

·       Better quality information was requested around the short breaks impact assessment, and for clarity and evidence to be provided around the “creative approach”. 

The Committee were concerned that: 

·       The budget didnot reflect the additional pressures regarding the UASC placements for the near future (2024-2025and in the four following years). 

·       Significant impacts for the service had been identified regarding Placement cost reductions which would commence in April 2025, which may present a potential risk to the Council’s financial plan. 

Adults Services/Commissioning and Partnerships

Documents Considered:

• Draft Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2024-2029
• Draft 2024-25 Budget
• Capital Programme for 2024-2029
• Adult Services Budget/FRM presentation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.