Agenda item

Local Authority Budget Proposals for 2018-19

To receive an update on the local authority budget proposals for 2018-19.

Minutes:

As part of the council’s consultation process, the Forum received a report on the Local Authority Budget proposals for 2018-2019 with a particular focus on the Children, Young People and Learning (CYPL) Department.

 

It was reported that the Council continues to face significant reductions in government grants, most notably the Revenue Support Grant (down £2.6m) and the New Homes Bonus Grant (down £2m) whilst at the same time experiencing rising costs through general inflation as well as significant demographic pressures, most notably impacting on social care  support arrangements.

 

As well as looking to generate efficiency savings, the council continues to implement significant changes through the Transformation Programme, with proposals in the 2018-19 budget for aggregate cost reductions of £6.4m. Other savings of £2.9m are proposed as well as pressures of £5.3m.

 

In respect of proposals relating to CYPL Department, £0.827m of net savings were identified in the Council’s Commitment Budget and this included £1.165m of savings through the Transformation Programme, mostly relating to social care costs and arrangements for senior leadership.

 

Concerns were raised about how this would be possible as currently children’s social care workers were struggling with capacity and there was a lack of staff to do preventative work with families. It was reported that an extra 4 social workers were being recruited to ease pressure through the Family Safeguarding Model that was being funded by a DfE grant. It was also confirmed that the savings in social care were coming from improved commissioning and not reductions to staffing numbers.

 

In respect of the Family Safeguarding Model, it was reported that earlier work by Herefordshire Council had resulted in a 34% reduction in children going into care. Members commented that thresholds were different in every local authority and it was questioned whether Bracknell Forest would be able to replicate those results. It was confirmed that the programme would be subject to external review to establish outcomes and impact, but the model had proved a success elsewhere.

 

Further concerns were expressed by members in respect of making savings on edge of care services. These services are seen as important in schools as helping to keep families together and the positive impact this has on families.

 

In a further update, the Executive Member for CYPL commented that over the next two years, the Adults, Health and Housing would be combined with Children’s, Young People and Learning to create a new ‘People’ directorate. This would create economies by having a shared senior leadership team and reduced number of heads of service whilst maintaining operational staff. The appointments below Director level were expected by the end of February 2018 with a timetable to merge both departments over the next 18 months to 2 years..

 

Concerns were raised about the effect of the CYPL transformation on outcomes for young people and an itemised budget and further information on the areas identified was requested to further understand the programme.

(Action: Paul Clark)

 

 

A clarification was provided in respect of the proposed saving on Educational Psychology costs through using the Schools Budget to fund a share of cost. The work that this is intended to fund relates to supporting the SEN Tribunal process through expert assessments and evidence to support LA placement proposals that tend to be lower cost than those proposed by parents. The expectation is that the work undertaken will significantly reduce placement costs and result in a net reduction in expenditure.

 

Concerns were raised about the reduction in advocacy services for children and young people in social care settings who need support as this was considered an important non statutory service. The Forum were reassured that this reduction in cost would still sufficiently meet the needs of young people and that looked after young people would continue to be closely monitored.

 

It was agreed that any additional comments on the budget proposals could also be forwarded to Cllr Barnard.

Supporting documents:

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk