To consider budget virements requiring Council approval. Report to Cabinet on budget pressures in Children’s Services attached.
Minutes:
Council considered a report setting out budget pressures on Children’s Services and proposing a virement of funds into the service budget to ensure that the organisation worked within the financial regulations and discharged its statutory duties under the Social Services Wellbeing Act.
County Councillor Amanda Jenner, the Chair of the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee, advised that the Committee had raised a number of concerns and had received a confidential briefing on the very high costs associated with a small number of very complex cases. The Committee had been shocked at the very high costs and concerned that they were all being borne by the County Council with no contribution from Powys Teaching Health Board. The Committee was concerned that physical and mental health problems were not been treated with parity. The Health Board had been invited to attend the Committee to discuss collaborative working and hear about the mental health support they provide to children in Powys.
Members asked if there would be any analysis of the comparative figures on the cost of expenditure which had been provided. The Head of Service advised that the figures were not comparable. The Portfolio Holder suggested that the Scrutiny Committees may wish to look in more detail at the figures.
The Head of Service agreed that there were not enough places available in the county and noted that a new children’s home would be opening in the south of the county and that planning permission had been received for another home in the north.
The Head of Service confirmed that an action plan had been put in place to address the recommendations of the SWAP report on Children’s Services. The Director of Social Services advised that the service did not accept one of the recommendations in relation to budgeting for agency staff and wouldn’t be taking it forward.
The Portfolio Holder confirmed that she had met Welsh Government Ministers who had been very supportive and the Health Board to discuss the issue. The Joint Partnership Board, which was a meeting of Council and Powys Teaching Health Board members and officers, had met to discuss this the previous week. The Head of Finance advised that every funding stream available, including the Welsh Government Hardship Fund, would be explored before there was any draw on reserves. The Head of Children’s Services advised that the service was doing everything it could to keep costs down.
The recommendation in the report was moved by County Councillor Rachel Powell and seconded by County Councillor Myfanwy Alexander and it was
RESOLVED
1. That the virements of £187k and £350k set out in 4.3 and 4.4 of the report are approved.
2. That at the end of this financial year, any of the remaining pressures as set out in paragraphs 3.2, 3.10 and 3.11 up to a maximum of £1.854 million will be authorised and vired from the Council’s Budget Management Reserve, providing that evidence is produced to establish that the pressures have been mitigated wherever possible.
County Councillor Laurie-Parry abstained.
Supporting documents: