Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 8 September 2022 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care.

Within this report and appendix we outline our strategic approach in responding to the review of the medium-term financial plan. This follows on from the report presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 28th September 2022. Whilst Stockport Council continues to develop opportunities for further enhancing the lives of our residents, we are also in a period of unprecedented uncertainty. Factors include the high levels of price inflation, interest rate changes, and uncertainty around volatile energy prices certainly beyond 6

months. In addition we are still without any means to accurately forecast the Government Settlement, Government assistance even via a levy on adult social care and wage settlements. Furthermore there are global issues, such as the war in Ukraine and energy supply generally, which are totally unpredictable.

This report outlines the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the report and the proposals presented within the report relevant to the remit of this committee.

Officer contact: Holly Rae on 0161 474 3014 or email: holly.rae@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director People and Integration submitted a report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the budget proposals being considered by the Cabinet to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation, and ensure the delivery of shared strategic partnership ambitions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was noted that there was a large amount of uncertainty around Government funding and queried whether the financial plan was based on the unknown funding position.

·         In response, it was stated that there was uncertainty nationally about the funding that local authorities were due to receive and in addition, from an adult social care perspective there was a level of uncertainty around grant funding and non-recurrent funding. It was recognised that the position of the medium-term financial plan was unprecedented with the levels of inflation and trying to interpret what this would be in the short, medium and long term had been a challenge. The financial plan would continue to be modified as the analysis of inflation over the next 12 to 18 months was received. The current report was based of assumptions around inflation and the overall settlement; however this was caveated by the uncertainty with regard to the non-recurrent grant funding.

·         With regard to inflation, it was queried how the council was approaching an estimation of inflation.

·         In response, it was reported that the council use CPI as one indicator and other internal and external factors to make a judgement on the inflationary uplift. Over the last 6 to 12 months, there had been a significant increase in the assessment in regard to predicted inflation to around 8% which had impacted on the gap between the funding and income that was is received and anticipated expenditure. The financial plans were working with this prediction to set a balanced budget using a combination of saving proposals, taxation, reserves and other means to set the budget.

·         It was asked whether the council anticipated this 8% inflationary uplift would increase.

·         In response, Members were advised that the 8% figure was purely on the cash limit that the council had for services, of which adult social care was a significant proportion of that. In addition, the financial plan sets aside specific finite funding linked to national and real living wage increases and noted the grant funding linked to fair cost of care which was above the 8% figure.

·         In relation to progressing our ambitions for neighbourhoods, it was queried whether this was being actively pursued within this budget.

·         In response, Members were given reassurance that the council was determined to continue to progress working with residents in neighbourhoods to develop an effective, preventative offer.

·         Members requested access to the results of the fairer charging policy equality impact assessment.

·         In response to a question around the steps being taken to mitigate as much job losses as possible, Members were advised that the approach to the financial challenges was with Stockport residents at the heart of decision making to mitigate the impact on residents, however the council had to keep an open mind in order to secure a balanced budget which may include the loss of colleagues to meet this.

·         In relation to the changing nature of the financial plan predicts, it was queried whether there were plans to consult with scrutiny more frequently than in previous years.

·         In response, it was stated that there was a schedule in place to report to scrutiny and additional detail would be provided to Committee by February.

·         It was noted that the impact of inflation would be impacting on residents and clients both known and unknown to the council. It was queried whether estimations were being calculated on the potential increase in demand on adult social care.

·         In response, it was stated that demand management was high on the services agenda. Adult social care was based  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider a report of the Director of Adult Services.

This report outlines the proposed areas of activity and schemes along with the financial commitment for the system wide winter plan for 2022/23. The report also provides an overview of the commitment the Council will make to ensure it effectively prepares for and responds to escalation in the acute system during the winter period.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on and note the proposed winter pressures schemes as detailed within the report.

Officer contact: Vincent Fraga on 0161 474 4401 or by email: vincent.fraga@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Adult Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the proposed areas of activity and schemes along with the financial commitment for the system wide winter plan for 2022/23. The report also provided an overview of the commitment the Council would make to ensure it effectively prepared for and responded to escalation in the acute system during the winter period.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Welcomed the report and development of the winter plan for 2022/23.

·         In relation to the challenges around recruitment and retention of staff within adult social care, it was queried whether the funding schemes available would be used to pay for agency staff, overtime for current staff or support the wider recruitment programmes.

·         In response, it was stated that there were two areas of focus, the first relating to the council’s internal social care staff to ensure that a comprehensive package was available to promote the care sector as an attractive employer. This included a job fair, making sure that staff were supported and well led within their roles, and developing flexible working policies and development opportunities within adult social care to help mitigate the challenges around retention. In addition, the council had devised a list of people who were prepared to volunteer or work additional hours in January. In respect of the external care market, it was noted that the sector was struggling to compete with other areas such as supermarkets and the hospitality industry. In response, the council were supporting the external care providers to develop a series of incentives, access additional funding across Greater Manchester to offer and encouraging the providers to offer resilience and wellness packages to staff. However, it was recognised that both the council and external care market was in a difficult position in terms of capacity.

·         Concerns were raised in relation to timeline around the schemes submitted to Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership and when the council would receive notification of which schemes had been agreed.

·         In response, Members were advised that voluntary sector additional capacity scheme had been approved through the partnership with Age UK. Some funding had also been agreed to provide additional intermediate care beds and there had been a recent Government announcement around the Hospital Discharge Fund, however there was uncertainty of when these funds would be distributed. What we don’t know is when that will come down. In the interim, the Council were exploring ways to prioritise their resources to support the community.

·         Additional information was requested in relation to the development of the Virtual Ward scheme.

·         In response, it was stated that the Virtual Ward scheme was a national programme rolled out over the last few years which provides wrap around support in a person’s home to allow for early discharge and provides access to primary and secondary care, community health care, adult social care and the wider voluntary sector support.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance).

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer contact: Georgia Latham on 0161 474 3229 or email: georgia.latham@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any Forward Plan items.

It was requested that the Maternity Services report scheduled for the meeting of the Committee on 24 November 2022 references the link between poorer outcomes and the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic sub-group.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.