Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Matt Dormer, Emma Stokes and Richard Udall and from Church Representative, Tim Reid.

None.

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance in writing or by e-mail indicating both the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (in this case 26 January 2024).  Further details are available on the Council's website.  Enquiries can also be made through the telephone number/e-mail address listed in this agenda and on the website.

None.

(previously circulated).

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 December 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Leader, Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Finance Officer (DCFO) attended the meeting to update Members on the budget proposals and receive feedback following the Overview and Scrutiny Panels’ discussions on the 2024/25 draft budget during the January Scrutiny meetings (noting that the 1 February Cabinet report had not been available in time for most of the Scrutiny Panel meetings).

The Board also had before them the feedback received from the Overview and Scrutiny Panels’ discussions in the Autumn on the emerging cost pressures relating to their findings on placements in adult and children’s social care, home to school transport and pay and contract inflation.

Following the discussion, the Board would agree comments to be considered by Cabinet on the 1 February 2024 and by Council on 15 February 2024.

The Leader highlighted that the Council’s budget for 2024/25 continued to face significant demand and cost pressures in three key areas of Children’s Social Care placements, Home to School Transport (HTST) and Adult Social Care. These areas had been subject to close financial monitoring by the Cabinet and through Scrutiny. The Board was advised that the Council had worked with similar councils through the County Councils Network to highlight concerns to Government about demand and costs pressures in these areas. The Councils had also been able to share their best practice in tackling these key issues.

The Board was informed that the income received from the Government as set out in the Provisional Settlement in December would increase by £21m, however it was highlighted that this was not keeping up with current levels of demand and pressures. The total pressures and investments built into the budget at this stage amounted to £86.5m, made up of the structural deficit of £35m and £51.5m for additional new year pressures. The maximum amount that could be generated by the Council Tax was £19.6m. The recent forecast for 2024/25 included a budget gap of £20.4m, but further savings had now been identified including within Children’s Services Rehabilitation and Supported Living provision and from the implementation of demand and price management across adult social care. The current budget gap was at £7.2m.The Board was informed that the Government had recently announced an additional funding allocation for childcare provision for upper tier authorities, which was anticipated could be in the region of £4.9m additional funding for this authority.

During the discussion, the following main points were made:

·         In response to a question about the terms of the Government’s recent additional funding allocation and whether it would be ring-fenced, the Board was advised that it was likely to be related to children’s social care placements but specific details were awaited.

·         The importance of looking after the mental health and welfare of staff in these unsettled times was highlighted. The Leader highlighted that open discussions took place with staff, and they were made aware of the support that was available to them. It was important that they recognised the size of the challenge facing the Council and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1356.

This item was deferred.