Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution).

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution) (Councillor Alex Ganotis) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the Medium Term Financial Plan forecasts for the Council’s finances for the period 2017/18 to 2021/22 taking account of the 2017/18 final local government finance settlement published on 22 February 2017.

RESOLVED – That the updated Medium Term Financial Plan forecasts for the Council’s finances for the period 2017/18 to 2021/22 taking account of the 2017/18 final local government finance settlement published on 22 February 2017 be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Executive Councillors (Adult Social Care) and (Health).

The attached revised Stockport Together business case was considered by the Executive at its meeting on 7 February 2017 as part of the deliberations on the 2017/18 Executive budget proposals. The Business Case has been submitted for consideration by Scrutiny to allow members to comment and ask questions prior to the consideration of the proposed budget by the Council Meeting on 23 February.

Because of the cross-cutting nature of the Stockport Together programme, members of the Adult Care Services & Housing Scrutiny Committee have been invited to attend the meeting to take part in the discussions.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report.

Officer contact: Michael Cullen, 0161 474 4631, Michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report of the Executive Councillors (Adult Social Care) and (Health) was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the revised Stockport Together Business Case that had been considered and approved by the Executive on 7 February 2017 as part of the Executive’s 2017/18 budget proposals.

Representatives of the Adult Care Services & Housing Scrutiny Committee were also present at the meeting to participate in the discussion on this item in view of its importance to the remit of that Committee.

The Executive Councillors (Adult Social Care) and (Health) (Councillors Wendy Wild and Tom McGee), the Corporate Director for People and the Borough Treasurer attended the meeting to respond to questions.

The Business Case set out the rational for increasing contributions to the pooled budget for the next financial year in order to provide continuity of care through existing services while new models of care were implemented. Efforts of local partners to implement these proposals and thereby realise savings sooner had been delayed due to external assurance processes.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         An update was requested in respect of co-location of neighbourhood teams. In response it was stated that all neighbourhoods had a multi-disciplinary team operating, and it was anticipated that all would be co-located by the end of May 2017.

·         Further clarification was sought on prescribing costs referred to in the document. In response it was stated that this was reflective of improvements in care models reducing the costs pressures on the Clinical Commissioning Groups’ (CCG) prescribing budget.

·         Concerns were expressed that integration efforts in Stockport were now falling behind others in Greater Manchester and that previous suggestions of a ‘light-touch’ regulatory environment, given as part of the Devolution Deal, were not being followed. In response it was stated that the Devolution agreement would not negate the need for most regulatory oversight from NHS England and NHS Improvement, but that the framework that was emerging was proving onerous. It was also emphasised that developing the local model was in itself complicated and taking time.

·         Clarification was sought on whether the business case accounted for the costs associated with on-call staff. It was confirmed that this had, but that work would be undertaken to understand the case-law implications for local practice. It was further commented that work was underway with providers to re-profile staff to improve their productivity and avoid paying for staff while they were ‘sleeping’.

·         Clarification was sought on the salary level assumptions in the report. In response it was confirmed that in accordance with standard practice the assumptions were based on salary mid-points within the range.

·         Assurance was sought on progress with ICT improvements that would be needed to facilitate integrated models of care. In response assurance was given that work was ongoing to create a real-time single case management record. Progress had been made in creating a single ICT system across primary, community and hospital care and making improvements in the infrastructure to allow systems to be accessible across premises. A work stream within Stockport Together was also exploring opportunities for technical solutions to improve care and diagnosis.

·         Clarification was sought on Direct Access Physio. In response it was stated that a number of services were being considered for changes to the access arrangements to avoid the need for a GP referral, thereby improving waiting times, prognosis and reducing demand on GPs.

·         An update on ambulatory care was requested. In response it was stated that after since its establishment the numbers using the unit had now doubled to 49. Attendances at the Hospital were being mapped to establish how many patients could have benefited from being routed through this service.

·         It was queried what the fall-back position was in the event that the programme did not deliver. In response it was stated that partners were working hard to minimise problems but that it was to be expected that certain aspects  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution) and the Executive Councillor (Reform & Governance)

Following the announcement of the 2017/18 Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement in December 2016, this report updates the Council’s 2017/18 to 2021/22 Medium Term Financial Plan forecasts and assumptions.

The report will inform the development of a balanced and sustainable budget for 2017/18 and a longer term forecast budget position up to 2021/22.

The report highlights that a budget reduction of £5.480m in 2017/18 needs to addressed in order to balance the Council’s 2017/18 budget. The longer term forecast suggests a budget reduction of £53m by 2021/22.

The Executive is recommended to:

·         Note the details of the 2017/18 Local Government Finance Settlement and its impact on the MTFP forecasts and assumptions presented in this report;

·         Note, and comment upon as appropriate, the financial forecasts for 2017/18 to 2021/22, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the financial challenges facing the Council;

·         Approve the updated Council Tax Base for budget setting purposes of 92,587.3 Band D equivalent dwellings;

·         Approve the indicative budget adjustments as presented in this report;

·         Note the budget reduction requirement for 2017/18 of £5.480m and the indicative cumulative reduction requirement of £20.868m for 2018/19 rising to £52.763m in 2021/22; and

·         Take the final steps necessary to propose a balanced budget for 2017/18 to the Budget Council meeting on 23 February 2017.

Officer contact: Michael Cullen, 0161 474 4631, michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Executive on the forecasts for the Council’s finances for the period 2017/18 to 2021/22 following the provision Local Government Finance Settlement announced in December 2016.

The report highlights that a budget reduction of £5.480m in 2017/18 needs to addressed in order to balance the Council’s 2017/18 budget. The longer term forecast suggests a budget reduction of £53m by 2021/22.

The Leader of the Council highlighted that the Final Local Government Finance Settlement was not due to be made until 20 February 2017 so that all the assumptions underlying this report and the proposed Revenue budget were provisional and subject to change.

The Executive Councillors (Adult Social Care) and (Health) referred to the updated Stockport Together Business Case appended to the report and the proposal to use unallocated resources from 2015/16 to support the Council’s contribution to the Pooled Budget for 2017/18. Executive councillors emphasised the need to dual run existing and new models of care before further changes to service delivery and resource allocation.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the Medium Term Financial Plan - Financial Landscapes and Forecast 2017/18 to 2021/22 and update following the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement:-

·           the details of the 2017/18 Local Government Finance Settlement and its impact on the MTFP forecasts and assumptions presented in this report be noted;

·           the financial forecasts for 2017/18 to 2021/22, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the financial challenges facing the Council be noted;

·           the updated Council Tax Base for budget setting purposes of 92,587.3 B and D equivalent dwellings be approved;

·           the indicative budget adjustments as presented in the report be approved;

·           the budget reduction requirement for 2017/18 of £5.480m and the indicative cumulative reduction requirement of £20.868m for 2018/19 rising to £52.763m in 2021/22 be noted; and

·           the final steps necessary to propose a balanced budget for 2017/18 to the Budget Council meeting on 23 February 2017 continue to be taken.