Agenda item

Purpose: To inform Members of the provisional revenue outturn for 2018/19.

RESOLVED that the Executive note the report, and in particular the continued challenge of managing pressures in adult social care, which are shared nationally.

This decision is not subject to call in as the report is to note only therefore it will be implemented immediately.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 7) concerning the provisional revenue outturn for 2018/19. Councillor Cant presented the report which explained that the Council had faced a potential overspend of £3.3m in 2018/19 and had responded to this with a Council wide mitigation programme, and it had proven necessary to make use of service specific risk reserves. After these actions, the final position would result in £81k being returned to reserves. Areas of ongoing overspend and unmet savings had been addressed as part of the 2019/20 budget build.

Councillor Lynne Doherty noted that it was an important report and demonstrated the impact of demand led budgets. As the former Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People, she could attest to the national trend of increasing demand on Children’s Social Care but gave a reassurance that the use of the Family Safeguarding model in West Berkshire enabled good management of that demand. A national solution was required and the Executive awaited the Social Care Green Paper. West Berkshire provided a good standard of social care but it came at a rising cost.

Councillor Graham Bridgman agreed a national debate was required regarding the ongoing funding of Adult Social Care. He expressed the view that it was unfair to expect other services to pick up the tab when there was a legal and moral duty on the Council to provide social care. Social care staff had borne the brunt of the budget pressures while other parts of the Council had slowed down. Careful matrices had been used to manage risk funding. Councillor Bridgman commended all Council officers for their work over the past year and reiterated that a national debate was required as demographic projections indicated that pressures on adult social care would continue to rise.

Councillor Lee Dillon agreed that a national solution was required for Adult Social Care pressures and expressed the view that it should be provided by the National Health Service. He asked how the Executive ensured that savings targets were met, noting that £200k of the Children and Family Services overspend had arisen from an unmet saving. Councillor Cant advised that a detailed meeting had been held earlier that day in order to monitor whether savings were delivered.

Regarding the Transformation Reserve, Councillor Dillon noted that this had been topped up in year and stated that he hoped general reserves remained adequate. Councillor Cant confirmed they were and that the Transformation Reserve existed to enable the Council to become more efficient.

Councillor Carolyne Culver enquired why the Economy and Environment Directorate had been underspent by £450k. Councillor Doherty confirmed that this related to the corporate slowdown.

Councillor Owen Jeffery asked what the budgeting error was which meant that a large overspend arose in-year. Councillor Bridgman referred to a report written by the Chief Executive and Audit Manager considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Commission at their meeting in February 2019.

RESOLVED that the Executive note the report, and in particular the continued challenge of managing pressures in adult social care, which are shared nationally.

Reason for the decision: To inform Members of the provisional revenue outturn for 2018/19.

Other options considered: N/a – factual report for information.