Adult, Community Services and Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel
Thursday 29 January 2009
Web Agenda/Minutes Summary Document
Meeting Name:
Adult, Community Services and Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel
Meeting Date:
01/29/2009 Pick
Meeting Time:
Location:
Sub Committee / User Forum etc (if required):
Members Present:
Non-Members Present:
Confidentiality: Part I
Document Type: Agenda
Document Status: Final
O F
M E E T I N G
ADULT, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL
will meet on
at
7.30pm
in the
COUNCIL CHAMBER, TOWN HALL, MAIDENHEAD
TO: MEMBERS OF THE ADULT, COMMUNITY SERVICES & HEALTH OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY PANEL
COUNCILLOR MEADOWCROFT (CHAIRMAN)
COUNCILLOR MRS ENDACOTT (VICE-CHAIRMAN)
COUNCILLORS MRS S EVANS, LENTON, MAJEED, MRS NAPIER & MRS PROCTOR
SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS
COUNCILLORS HERDSON, MRS KEMP, MRS LUXTON, MRS NEWBOUND, PENFOLD, D. WILSON & MRS YONG
Interim Head of Democratic Services
Issued: 21 January 2009
Members of the Press and Public are welcome to attend Part I of this meeting.
The agenda is available on the Council’s web site at www.rbwm.gov.uk or contact the
Panel Administrator Andrew Scott (01628) 796028
In the event of the fire alarm sounding or other emergency, please leave the building quickly and calmly by the nearest exit. Do not stop to collect personal belongings and do not use the lifts. Congregate in the Town Hall Car Park, Park Street, Maidenhead (immediately adjacent to the Town Hall) and do not re-enter the building until told to do so by a member of staff. |
PART I
| ITEM | SUBJECT | WARD | PAGE NO |
| APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence |  | |
| DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST To receive Declarations of Interests from Members of the Panel in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting. | | - |
| MINUTES To confirm the Part I Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 16 December 2008. | All | i-iv |
| RELEASE OF SERVICE USERS FROM SECURE ACCOMMODATION To receive information on the policies and procedures relating to the release of service users from secure accommodation and the after care provided for them. | All | - |
| RIGHT CARE RIGHT PLACE To receive an update on the implementation of the proposals to modernise health services in East Berkshire arising from the Right Care Right Place consultation. (Presentation attached) | All | - |
| SAFEGUARDING ADULTS To comment upon the arrangements in place to safeguard vulnerable adults. | All | 1 |
| BUDGET REPORT To comment upon the report being submitted to Cabinet on 12 February 2009 on the Council’s Budget for 2009/2010. | All | 7 |
| SERVICE MONITORING REPORT To consider activity within the Adult Services and Health services during the period to 31 December 2008. | All | 22 |
| WORK PROGRAMME The following items are scheduled for discussion at the meeting of the Panel to be held on 3 March 2009.
Proposed Changes to the Arrangements for Medical Emergencies - Heatherwood Hospital Update on the Outcomes arising from the Annual Performance Assessment of Adult Social Care Service Monitoring Report Award of Contract for the Operation of Thames Valley Athletics Centre Guildhall Museum Feasibility Study | All | - |
| LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 – EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC To consider passing the following resolution:- “That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on items 11 - 12 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act" | | |
RIGHT CARE RIGHT PLACE
Presentation
Meetings 090129 Acshosc Right Care Presentation
1
- Title: SAFEGUARDING ADULTS
Date: 29th January 2009
Officers Reporting: Ed Thompson, Joint Commissioning Manager (01628 683614) Andy Iddiols, Safeguarding Adults Co-ordinator (01628 683710)
Wards affected: All
1.1 Local Authorities have a responsibility to ensure that there are effective multi-arrangements in place to safeguard vulnerable adults, and to intervene when concerns of possible abuse are raised. This report provides a briefing for Panel members on these arrangements in the Royal Borough.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Panel:
- a) notes the multi-agency work led by Adult Care Services to safeguard vulnerable adults be noted;
b) consider any areas they wish to recommend for further work;
c) consider any further briefing or information that would be helpful for Cabinet.
3. SUPPORTING INFORMATION
3.1 In March 2000, the Department of Health (DoH) issued ‘No Secrets’, a national framework for the development of adult protection work. Adult protection is now more generally referred to as ‘safeguarding adults’.
3.2 There is an East Berkshire Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board, a multi-agency group currently chaired by Bracknell’s Chief Officer for Adults’ Services. The Board is responsible setting the strategic direction and securing senior management engagement across the area. The Board provides leadership in developing policy and standards to deliver improved practice in addressing adult safeguarding issues. This board currently oversees our work locally to safeguard vulnerable adults from abuse.
3.3 The current policies and procedures were completed during 2008 and there was a general launch of the final draft of the procedures across Berkshire during the summer of 2008. A well established multi-agency safeguarding procedure provides the framework to ensure that there is a co-ordinated and effective response when concerns about possible abuse are identified.
3.4 Safeguarding investigations generally relate to concerns of abuse against an individual, and may relate to physical, sexual, financial, psychological or institutional abuse. In 2007/08 there were 99 investigations into concerns of abuse against individuals. In the last two years officers have also conducted a number of “serious concerns about establishments” investigations, where concerns about the overall standard of care in a particular establishment are raised, for example following a high number of complaints about a home care agency, or a number of complaints about a single care home.
3.5 Both locally and nationally, issues around the protection of children are more widely recognised and multi-agency arrangements for safeguarding children are generally more established. However, there is now increasing recognition of abuse of vulnerable adults, and campaigns, for example by Action on Elder Abuse, have helped to raise this profile. The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) have identified safeguarding as a priority, and this now forms the basis of all inspections of local authorities with responsibility for adult social services. In Royal Borough we expect an inspection during this year.
4. Background
4.1 The aim of ‘Safeguarding Adults’ work is to help vulnerable adults to live a life that is free from abuse and neglect. This includes - but is not limited to - arrangements for responding to allegations of abuse by all agencies.
4.2 Local authorities in particular have a responsibility to follow the Department of Health guidance outlined in ‘No Secrets’ and coordinate a multi-agency approach to safeguarding against abuse and taking appropriate action when somebody is being abused or is at risk of abuse. In 2005 the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services in conjunction with other agencies with a responsibility for safeguarding issued a National Framework on which the current policies and procedures are based.
4.3 The terminology ‘Safeguarding Adults’ has been widely adopted nationally and locally but this area of work is still sometimes known as: Adult Protection, Protection of Vulnerable Adults, POVA, Protecting Vulnerable Adults and in some cases just ‘vulnerable adults’.
4.4 For the purposes of safeguarding adults, a vulnerable adult is defined in No Secrets as: A person aged 18 years or over “who is or may be in need of community care services* by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.”
- *Community care services in this context refer to all care services provided in any setting or context.
4.5 It is important to note three important points in relation to safeguarding adults’ work:
- 1. Domestic Violence and Safeguarding Adults are not the same; however, domestic violence also becomes a safeguarding adults issue when the victim is a vulnerable adult.
2. A high proportion of adult abuse and neglect does not constitute a criminal offence because unlike Safeguarding Children, there is no all-encompassing Safeguarding Adults legislation.
3. Whilst any forms of abuse could be the result of deliberate intent, they could equally be due to negligence or ignorance.
5. Legal Implications
5.1 At present there is no specific ‘Safeguarding Adults’ legislation in England, however the safeguarding of vulnerable adults sits within a wide legislative framework and our statutory duty to safeguard and take relevant action when abuse may have occurred is incorporated into a number of Acts, including: The Mental Health Act 1983; The NHS and Community Care Act 1990; The Human Rights Act 1998; The Care Standards Act 2000; The Mental Capacity Act 2005; The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006; and The Mental Health Act 2007.
5.2 On 14 June 2007, Ivan Lewis (the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department of Health) announced a review of the ‘No Secrets’ guidance. The case for specific legislation to safeguard vulnerable adults is to be considered as part of the review.
6 Additional Key Issues
6.1 Risk Management
Assessing and managing risk is essential to safeguarding vulnerable adults. There is a multi-agency responsibility to identify vulnerable adults at risk of abuse, to put safeguards in place to prevent abuse and to ensure that where there are concerns of abuse having occurred, risks are managed to protect vulnerable adults from further abuse.
6.2 Community Safety
There needs to be strong links between Safeguarding Adults and; Domestic Violence, Community Safety Team, Safeguarding Children, Health partners and other stakeholders. The safeguarding of vulnerable adults is key to delivering the Sustainable Community Strategy aim of making the borough a safe place to live and work in.
6.3 Links to Strategic Objectives
- Safeguarding vulnerable adults is integral to the corporate objective of safer communities and should form a crosscutting theme of the impending update of the Sustainable Community Strategy for the borough.
Safeguarding vulnerable adults contributes to the Community Partnerships objective of promoting each citizens health and independence as effective safeguarding promotes wellbeing and independence for adults and older people.
6.4 Equalities and Community Cohesion
- Robust safeguarding processes ensure that the right not to be discriminated against because of ethnic origin, culture, religion, gender, sexuality, age, or disability, is upheld for all vulnerable adults. This area of work falls under the framework of delivering “Success through Diversity”, which significantly contributes to the long-term vision embodied in the Sustainable Community Strategy.
- One of the key policy principles for safeguarding adults is that all interventions must be in a manner that respects the dignity, privacy and beliefs of all the individuals concerned, whatever their race, culture, religion, language, gender, disability, age or sexual orientation.
7. Safeguarding Adults - The Process.
7.1 Concerns about the possible abuse of a vulnerable adult may come from a number of sources: a family carer, a care worker, a friend or neighbour, a GP, or the service user themselves. Wherever the referral comes from, it is the responsibility of the local authority to ensure that this is looked into. In this context, the Adult Care Services Learning Disability (LD) and Adult and Older Persons (ACS), Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) Mental Health Team for Older People (MHTOP) Teams are known as the “investigating teams”.
7.2 Most safeguarding adult’s abuse investigations begin with an initial assessment by telephone. The need for the immediate protection of the vulnerable adult is the first consideration, and if it appears that a criminal act may have been committed, the investigating team will contact the police.
7.3 A safeguarding strategy meeting will be held where there is a suspicion or concern of abuse. This meeting must take place within 5 days of the referral and is convened by the investigating team and is central to developing a co-ordinated investigation, ensuring that information is shared, roles agreed and stress for the vulnerable adult is minimised. Police attendance is essential if it appears that a criminal act may have occurred. Service providers who work with the vulnerable adult should attend and the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) invited if relevant. Consideration must be given to involving the alleged victim and/or family carers. The main aim of the meeting is to produce an initial protection plan for the vulnerable adult. The action plan details roles, responsibilities and timescales, and where necessary follow up meetings are held.
7.4 The strategy meeting will also consider arrangements on how best to interview the vulnerable adult. If the alleged abuser is a family member or carer, the factors contributing to the abuse will also be carefully assessed.
7.5 An investigation into the abuse of a vulnerable adult may reveal wider concerns about a service provider. This may result in a requirement for the service provider to take actions to improve the standard of care and support being provided. CSCI will always be involved where the concerns relate to a registered care home or domiciliary care provider.
7.6 Depending on the outcome of the investigation the Police may press formal charges and prosecute the alleged abuser. Employers must refer for inclusion on the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) List anyone who was dismissed for misconduct, which harmed a vulnerable adult or placed a vulnerable adult at risk of being harmed. Staff must also be referred for inclusion on the List if because of such misconduct they were suspended, or transferred away from a care position, or they retired, resigned or were made redundant in circumstances where they would have been dismissed.
8. Summary of Annual Report
- Copies of the full Safeguarding Adults Annual Report are available from Andy Iddiols (Safeguarding Adults Co-ordinator)
The table below shows the number of safeguarding investigations during 2007/08 to March 2008 with a comparison to the previous year:
| Care Group | 07/08 | 06/07 |
| Older People Physical Disability Learning Disability Older Peoples’ Mental Health Working Age Mental Health | 50 5 16 17 11 | 32 7 13 9 8 |
Total | 99 | 69 |
- The figures overall reflect increased safeguarding activity in relation to vulnerable adults. Whilst there have been historical recording problems which may have led to activity being under-recorded the general trend of reporting is upward. This can be related to a greater awareness of adult abuse and improved reporting of alleged abuse within partner agencies and community organisations.
These data accuracy problems are being addressed so that safeguarding is included on the PARIS client record system, which will ensure that all investigations etc are logged and fully recorded. We recognise that this data is essential to inform future developments and safeguarding activity and the plans being considered for PARIS should ensure comprehensive data collection.
9. Proposed Developments
9.1 Given the vital importance of safeguarding and the fact that it has become more to the centre of activity within adult services, it is proposed to carry out extensive publicity and training within the Royal Borough. This will involve significantly increasing the profile around adult safeguarding in the light of the development of the new procedures and will also involve involvement with partner agencies including the independent and voluntary sector. There also needs to be some discussion about the need to involve users and carers where appropriate and this will be part of the action plan.
9.2 Cabinet will be receiving this report with further recommendations that will include the establishment of a borough Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board, the creation of a Safeguarding Adults Team and Safeguarding becoming a key theme in the revising of the Sustainable Community Strategy.
- Background Papers:
None
| Title: | BUDGET REPORT |
| Date: | 29 JANUARY |
| Member Reporting: | Councillor Hilton |
| Contact Officer(s): | Andrew Brooker, Head of Finance (01628-796341) |
| Wards Affected: | All |
The purpose of this report is to inform the Panel of progress to date in the preparation of the 2009/10 Budget and seek the panel’s views on the issues that remain to be addressed.
2. MEMBER'S RECOMMENDATION: That the contents of the Report be noted and that the comments of the Panel be reported to Cabinet to be considered as part of its budget setting deliberation.
3. SUPPORTING INFORMATION
3.1 Wards Affected
All wards will be affected by the 2009/10 Budget.
3.2 Relevant Matters Upon Which Decision is Based & Reasons Supporting Recommendation
3.2.1 This report should be read in conjunction with the Preliminary Budget Report presented to Cabinet on the 18th December 2008 which outlined the impact on the Borough of:
The potential implication of the “credit crunch”
The Provisional Grant Settlement for 2009/10
Inflation in the coming year, in particular on contracted services
Pay Awards, provision for awards effective from April 2009
Service Pressures i.e. demographic pressures, landfill tax, changes in specific grant
Capital Financing costs, provision for potential revenue impact of future capital spend
Council Tax Revenue, including potential tax base increases
Increases in the Dedicated Schools Grant
- Credit Crunch
3.2.3 The uncertainty faced by the national and global economic position posed questions not faced by local authorities for some time if ever before. Whilst there has been some impact on service provision, additional enquiries for Housing Policy and a significant increase in Housing Benefit claimants (many of whom do not qualify for support after assessment), some commercial tenants under pressure and reduced income from interest on balances, to date the impact has not been too severe.
3.2.4 Clearly the position changes almost daily and a close watch is being maintained on key indicators.
3.2.5 How should the council react to this scenario? One option is to assume the worst and include in its tax base provision for reduced income and additional spend in those areas likely to see an impact. This approach would result in either higher Council Tax or greater service reductions elsewhere to make room for these ‘provisions’.
3.2.6 The alternative approach which is favoured at the present time is to assume that the actions being taken by national government will have the desired effect on ensuring that the recession being faced is relatively short (up to 24 months) and thereafter we will start to see economic activity returning to something close to the ‘norm’.
3.2.7 The council is relatively well placed in terms of reserves to adopt the approach, in the short term at least, to wait and see, to use reserves to meet short term financial pressures, in so doing keeping Council Tax increase to a low level and preserving, as far as possible, service provision.
3.2.8 This approach works in the short term, and needs to be kept under review. If indications suggest that the recession is going to be longer than the 24 months then some more specific actions will be required to bring the Council’s budget into balance.
- Revenue Budget 2009/10
3.2.9 Directors have been charged with preparing budgets within these targets which included indicative efficiency targets, in so doing Directors have identified service specific pressures, largely of an unavoidable nature. Working with Lead Members, Directors have identified measures necessary to deliver spending plans within the specified targets. The specific service budget pressures and the measures under consideration to ensure that planned expenditure is contained within spending targets are identified in the attached appendices.
3.2.10 Appendix A shows how the budgets have moved from the 2008/09 Budget to the proposed 2009/10 Budget. In addition Appendix B details the saving for each directorate. A detailed review of the administrative support of a number of services will lead to a reduction in staffing need. The majority of the posts lost are currently vacant and the level of service provision will be maintained.
3.2.11 To provide some context Appendix C details the current approved budget for Services and the proposed Budget for 2009/10. It is worth noting that additional spend of £660k per annum represents approximately 1% on Council Tax
Capital Programme 2009/10 – 2011/12
3.2.12 The Preliminary Budget Report discusses the overall capital financing assumptions included in the Medium Term Financial Plan. Directors have identified a number of capital projects necessary to maintain the Councils infrastructure and develop essential services. These projects have been “prioritised” according to: cost (revenue and capital); impact on service delivery; and availability of external funding.
3.2.13 In the meantime, Appendix D details the proposed capital programme and panel members’ views are sought on the relative priority given to specific schemes.
3.2.14 The schemes are summarised by directorate.
3.2.15 Again to provide some context £1m of corporately funded capital spend has an ongoing capital financing cost implication to the revenue budget (for up to 25years) of £80k in a full year (0.14% on Council Tax)
4 OPTIONS AVAILABLE AND RISK ASSESSMENT
4.1 Options
| Option | Comments | Financial Implications |
1 | Accept the report | This report is for Information | Contained within the appendices |
2 | Amend the report | The panel can propose alternative capital schemes provided they replace agreed items of equal value | No additional impact |
4.2 Risk assessment
4.2.1 All measures proposed in the budget have been subject of a risk assessment both in terms of deliverability and service impact. The assessment of General Fund Reserve includes an assessment of the financial impact of a range of economic and environmental factors which may impact on the Councils budget.
5. Implication
The following implications have been addressed where indicated below
Financial | Legal | Human Rights Act | Planning | Sustainable Development | Diversity & Equality |
ü | ü | ü | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Background Papers: Budget papers 2009-10; Medium Term Financial Plan 2009/10 to 2011/12; Department of Communities and Local Government web site (RSG provisional settlement 2008/09 to 20010/11; Preliminary Budget Report – Cabinet 18th December 2008
Meetings 090129 Acshosp Budget Report Appendixa
Meetings 090129 Acshosp Budget Report Appendixb1
Meetings 090129 Acshosp Budget Report Appendixb2
Meetings 090129 Acshosp Budget Report Appendixc1
Meetings 090129 Acshosp Budget Report Appendixd1
Title: SERVICE MONITORING REPORT
Date: 22 January 2009
Member Reporting: Councillor Hilton
Contact Officer(s): Andrew Brooker, Head of Finance, x6341
Wards affected: All
1. SUMMARY
1.1 This service monitoring report provides a monthly update on service delivery with emphasis on the impact on the council’s financial position.
1.2 Services are currently projecting expenditure of £86,385k (up £40k since last month’s £86,345k). The approved estimate is £86,021k (down £1k from last month’s £86,022k). The expected overspend is therefore £364k (last month: £323k). See sections 3 and 4 for more details.
1.3 General balances at year-end are projected to be £5.818m (last month £5.441m) – see section 5 for more details.
1.4 The approved capital programme has increased by £82k since last month to £37.613m, which is funded by grants and contributions. Variances are -£432k (last month -£376k). Slippage has increased to £4.622m (last month: £4.545m). See section 6 for more details.
2. RECOMMENDATION: That:
i) The provisional revenue and capital outturn figures be noted.
ii) The capital programme variances and slippage identified in Appendix C be approved.
iii) That Directors work with Lead Members to develop proposals to contain expenditure within current budget limits
| What will be different for residents as a result of this decision? |
| The Council is responsible for ensuring that it has put in place the proper arrangements to secure economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources. If the management of services and their budgets are not regularly reviewed, any and all services for residents could be adversely affected and Council Tax levels may be affected. |
3.1 Background
3.2 From 8th December 2008, the Council moved to a new four directorate structure. The format of the service monitoring reports will be kept the same for the remainder of 2008-9. All services will continue to be monitored carefully.
3.3 As at 31 December 2008, total service expenditure for 2008/9 is expected to be £86,385k (up £40k from last month’s £86,345k).
3.4 Summaries of the Council’s provisional outturn Revenue and Capital financial reports are contained in Appendices A and B respectively. The revenue report includes income and expenditure statements together with a short Directorate report drawing members’ attention to key activities affecting the current and future years.
3.5 The Director of Learning & Care reports that its 2008-9 costs are projected to be overspent by £154k (up £30k from last month) on its approved estimate of £48,506k (last month’s approved estimate was £48,457k).
Children’s Services are expected to be overspent by £428k, a decrease of £55k on last month. The main change from last month is a reduction in the forecast cost of disbursements of childcare lawyers – a joint arrangement run by Reading Borough Council.
Adult Social Care is expecting to underspend by £219k (down £60k from an expected underspend last month of £279k). There has been an increase in the number of higher need service users within external homecare and use of spot providers to meet demand (+£48k ), an increase in the number of older persons’ residential and nursing care spot placements (+£16k) and a revision to physical disability residential placement costs (-£4k).
Homelessness expenditure is expected to increase by £25k because of increased demand for temporary accommodation from larger families and provision for bad debts on an increasing number of interest-free loans.
The approved estimate has been increased by £49k after a transfer of a £17k Young Persons Substance Misuse grant from DCSF to area based grants (held centrally), and a supplementary estimate to cover enhanced redundancy costs within Children’s Services.
3.6 The Director of Community Services reports a variance of £75k (down £30k from last month) from the approved estimate of £22,810k (same as last month).
Streetcare income has increased by £30k from a large commercial hording licence.
3.7 The Chief Executive reports that Corporate Services expenditure is expected to be £135k higher (last month: £94k higher) than the approved estimate of £14,705k (£50k lower than last month).
The underspend of £50k on supplementary pension costs within corporate human resources first reported to Cabinet in August 2008 has been changed to £nil, with a corresponding reduction to the approved estimate figure.
An underspend of £24k has arisen within the Chief Executive’s budget due to a staff vacancy. There is an overspend within the Youth Offending Team of £15k on externally-provided anger management classes after the closure of Norfolk House.
4. INTEREST ON BALANCES AND CAPITAL FINANCING
The Head of Finance continues to review the interest earned on balances. Whilst the current markets are returning lower interest rates, the Royal Borough has entered into some longer term investments which together with higher than expected in-year balances are generating higher than expected returns. As a result, interest on balances is now expected to increase by £1,100k in 2008/9 (up £400k from £700k as reported to September 2008 Cabinet).
5. OVERALL POSITION
Appendix A summarises the projected outturn position and shows projected year-end reserves to have increased by £377k to £5.818m from the previous month. This is made up of a reduction of £1k in approved estimates, a £17k transfer to Area Based Grants as discussed above, the expected £400k increase in interest earned on balances, and an increase in service variances of £41k.
6. CAPITAL
6.1 Overall Gross Expenditure Budget
Total capital expenditure for 2008/09 is expected to be £32.559m (last month: £32.610m), which is £5.054m below the approved budget. This is made up of £432k variances (£376k) and £4.622m slippage (£4.545m) and is summarised as follows:-
Exp Inc Net
£'000 £'000 £'000
Approved Budget October 2008 37,613 -24,404 13,209
Variances identified -432 60 -372
Slippage to 2009/10 -4,622 2,395 -2,227
Projected capital programme 2008/2009 32,559 -21,949 10,610
6.2 Approved Capital Budget Changes
The £82k increase in the capital budget is made up of Local Transport Plan adjustments (£46k), s106 funded work at Furze Platt Senior School (£11k), Health and Safety CCTV at car parks (£10k) and £15k demolition works at the Guards Club, following on from the decision at the prioritisation sub-committee meeting in December.
6.3 Projected Variances and Slippage
Community Services report that in comparison to the approved budget, there will be a net under spend of £448k (last month £392k). The underspend has increased as the budgets have been approved for the Local Transport Plan (£46k) and the Health & Safety Car Parks CCTV (£10k).
Learning and Care reports the same expected overspend of £16k as per last month.
Additional slippage this month is £77k on Extended School capital. Full details are in Appendix C.
6.4 Overall Programme Status
The project statistics show the following position:
Number of Schemes in Programme 466
Yet to Start 8%
In Progress 52%
(Of which Ongoing Annual Programmes 6%
e.g.. Disabled Facilities Grant)
Completed 26%
Devolved Formula Capital Grant schemes 14%
(Data not available on budgets devolved to schools)
7. OPTIONS AVAILABLE AND RISK ASSESSMENT
7.1 Options
| Option | Comments | Financial Implications |
| 1. Accept the report | Directors have a responsibility for managing their Services within the Budget approved by Council. Cabinet has limited power to vary those budgets within the overall budget and policy framework or to re-define the priorities agreed when the budget was approved. Cabinet does however have responsibility for considering the impact on future year’s budgets of the decisions taken. | Revenue Capital |
| 2. Reject the report | This is not an option as The Local Government Act 2003 requires the Royal Borough to monitor its financial position | Revenue Capital |
Risk assessments are carried out as a matter of course for the delivery of individual services. The main Financial risks are included on the Council’s Risk Register . paragraphs 3.8 to 3.15 discuss the risks associated with the current economic downturn.
The Councils Financial Strategy outlines the measures available to it in the event of a series of events that lead to significant projected budget variances being reported.
8. CONSULTATIONS CARRIED OUT
No specific consultation is carried out as this is a regular monitoring report
9. COMMENTS FROM THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL
Relevant components of this report will be considered by each of the four scrutiny panels as part of their next round of meetings.
IMPLICATIONS
10. The following implications have been addressed where indicated below.
Financial | Legal | Human Rights Act | Planning | Sustainable Development | Diversity & Equality |
ü | ü | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Background Papers: Cabinet 24 July 2008 – Monitoring report.
Meetings 090129 Acshosp Service Monitoring Report Appx1
Meetings 090129 Acshosp Service Monitoring Report