To review the proposed Budget for 2020/21 and to make recommendations to Cabinet.

Councillor Story said that the Panel had a direct responsibility for vulnerable people and that two of the changes that had been made in the proposed budget were applicable to the directorate.

Before the main debate on the item, the Chairman invited two members of the public to speak on the item. Janet Hayes-Brown explained that her son had a disability but had benefitted from ‘Ways into Work’ which had helped him gain a job. The service provided ongoing support for those that were part of the scheme, and there was concern that the budget cuts would affect the level and quality of the service that Ways into Work provided.

Becky Beechen, who was representing Ways into Work, explained to the Panel that funding was needed to continue to provide employment opportunities. RBWM had been closing the disability employment gap and support had been provided to over 90 participants on the programme. A reduced workforce would not be able to provide the same level of support and service as before and this would directly affect the opportunities available.

Councillor Carroll, Deputy Chairman of Cabinet, Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Health and Mental Health, said that the council was not looking to remove things that were already there and was looking instead to transform and change existing services. He said that it was important to still deliver a good quality of service to residents but to also gain value for money.

Councillor C Da Costa asked if the changes that had been made would therefore have been made anyway. Councillor Carroll said that they would have due to the financial pressure that the council currently found itself in. He passed on his gratitude for the work that Ways into Work had done but said that the strategy was to consider which services needed to be outsourced. By working with Opatlis, RBWM could save money while still providing the same high level of service as Ways into Work.

Hilary Hall said that they wanted to work with Ways into Work and form a close partnership.

Councillor Story stated that he would like to know more about the youth and early services that the council provided, as well as placements for children.

Kevin McDaniel, Director of Children’s Services, said that placements are covered by third party providers to look after children in care. They were focussing on work which would help to promote independent living and they were optimistic that the amount of money spent could be streamlined.

Councillor C Da Costa said that it was important that young children in care were ready and well equipped to live independent lives.

Kevin McDaniel confirmed that Ofsted had recently undertaken a standard inspection to ensure that children were achieving the expected levels and the result of this inspection would be available towards the end of February. He also told Members that a Cabinet paper would be created which would be a consultation on how RBWM could combine services into a ‘family hub’. This would enable more efficient targeting in services for the most vulnerable in society and a reduction in the number of duplicated services that were being offered.

Councillor Tisi said that by already making the saving in the budget, the process of holding a consultation was pointless as the decision had already been made.

Kevin McDaniel said that all services were open between set times and that they were not closing down any routes which would enable access to these services for the most vulnerable in society.

Councillor Werner commented that he believed the consultation to be pointless as the savings had already been agreed. Councillor Carroll reiterated his commitment to holding a consultation.

Councillor Del Campo asked about those children that ‘slipped through the net’ and were not picked up their families, and what support they would now be getting. Kevin McDaniel said that there was a wide degree of training in order to spot any signs at sessions.

Councillor Tisi asked what would happen to parent led groups at children’s centres. She was told that children centre buildings were well used but did not know which services were valued.

Councillor Jones expressed concern about the area that would be invested, saying that in 2012 there was a cut of £400,000 but this was not built back into the Budget.

Hilary Hall said that there would be investment in prevention and ensuring that residents in the borough were stay healthier for longer. Councillor Carroll said that he thought the savings were achievable.

Councillor Werner said that Optalis had not yet confirmed what their proposals would be regarding Ways into Work. He said that he would need to see the plans before he could support the Budget.

Councillor Carroll responded by saying that there would be investment in the service through Optalis and the new service would be operational from 1^st May 2020.

Duncan Sharkey, Managing Director, said that the council needed to continue to deliver excellent services and that additional resources would be needed to deliver on the change.

Councillor Tisi asked if there was sufficient incentives offered that would encourage social workers to come and work in the borough. Kevin McDaniel said that it was a high priority and that they needed an organisation where it was safe for social workers to practise.

Councillor Jones said the council needed to ensure that the terms and conditions of contracts were attractive, as it was the conditions rather than the money which were important in retaining social workers to a particular area.

At the end of item, the Panel noted the recommendation and agreed that comments made in the debate on the item would be passed on to Cabinet for consideration.