Issue - meetings

The Director of Social Services, Health and Housing, advised members that the budget setting process had been difficult, the required 5% savings from the directorate amounted to £5.4m at a time of increasing pressures on services and complexities of need. The Director noted that other agencies such as police, prison and probation services as well as some areas of health, were reducing services to vulnerable people which was creating additional demand.

The Heads of Service provided of overview of each of the budget proposals contained within the report.

Reference SSH&CS-A: The Head of Housing and Communities advised members that the expected efficiency saving for the department was £112k which will be achieved through cost reduction in providing homelessness services through service redesign and preventing people from requiring temporary accommodation; this is in line with the strategy that was previously brought to committee.

A restructure of the Housing Options Team was carried out in August and a strategic housing function is in place. The efficiency target is connected to the teams that are now in place and the work in the strategy is being progressed.

Reference SSH&CS-B. The Head of Children and Young People Services advised members that the pro-posed saving of £232k related to a natural reduction in the number of looked after children. There will be a reduction in the amount of allowances that are currently paid but will stop when the young person turns 18.

Members questioned how this figure would be affected should there be an increase in young people needing care in the future.

The Head of Service confirmed that any child needing care would be provided for. However, due to the service set up and the quality of the social work practice, there has been a downward trend over the last 10 years of young people needing care, and although this is a risk, it is anticipated that the numbers will reduce further.

Members asked for clarification of the term non looked-after children that was used in the report.

The Head of Service confirmed that this term related to previously looked-after young people who ceased being looked-after at 18.

Members referred to page 20 of the report and the mention that ‘historically the underspend for in-house allowances offset the overspend of external residential provisions’ and asked if the underspend was saved and was it connected to this budget proposal.

The Head of Service confirmed that this could be discussed under a later budget proposal.

Members requested data in relation to the special guardianship order.

The Director of Social Services, Health and Housing, clarified children who have been adopted or are on special guardianship orders are no longer looked after by the local authority and are classed as non looked-after.

Members questioned whether any of the non looked-after children required any transport.

The Director confirmed that this may be the case, the young people were supported to stay with their special guardians or adopted parents.

SSH&CS-C The Head of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4