Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance detailing the following items for discussion from the current Forward Plan:

a)  Future of the Kentish Road Respite Service; and

b)  Update of Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget 2017/18 to 2020/21

a)  Future of the Kentish Road Respite Service

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Adult Care was present as well as carers, parents and interested parties of Kentish Road respite services and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

The Committee discussed with the Cabinet Member suitable alternative arrangements that had been identified for the remaining individuals who were using Kentish Road for respite care, following an assessment of their needs and the further development of a range of alternatives.

RESOLVED that:

(i)  the Cabinet Member investigates why expressions of interest in operating the supported respite provision at Weston Court from Mencap and the Rose Road Association were not referred to the Cabinet Member prior to the determination of the operator;

(ii)  at the 14 November 2017 meeting, Cabinet withdraw the report and keep the Kentish Road Respite Service open;

(iii)  if the report was not withdrawn from the Cabinet meeting, anonymised information was provided for the 14 November 2017 Cabinet meeting outlining the costs to the Authority relating to the individuals that had transitioned from Kentish Road Respite Service to permanent placements since the resolutions made by Cabinet on 16 December 2014;

(iv)  if the report was not withdrawn from the Cabinet meeting, a comprehensive and fully costed assessment, that clearly identified the assumption that the cost savings were predicated on, was provided for the 14 November Cabinet meeting;

(v)  if the report was not withdrawn from the Cabinet meeting, information be provided to the Cabinet meeting that explained:

  a)  How the proposed closure of the Kentish Road Respite Service would  lead to better outcomes for service users;

  b)  The measurements that were being used to determine ‘better outcomes’; and

  c)  How the removal of the Kentish Road Respite Service would improve choice for adults living with a learning disability in Southampton.

b)  Update of the Medium Term Financial Strategy and General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Revenue Budgets 2017/18 to 2020/21

The Committee discussed with the Cabinet Member for Finance the major changes in the Medium Term Financial Strategy and overall General Fund and Housing Revenue budgets 2017/18 to 2020/21 which included major forecast variances against the approved estimates. 

The Committee noted the current increase by £4.7m within the General Fund programme and £0.91m within the HRA programme and how these pressures were being managed at this mid-year point.