Agenda item

Cabinet Members – Councillors Craig ag Iago, Dafydd Meurig and Dilwyn Morgan

 

To consider a report on the above

 

Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property; inviting the committee to scrutinise the savings proposals made by the Children and Supporting Families Department, the Adults, Health and Well-being Department and the Housing and Property Department to cope with their share of the possible £2m deficit in the 2020/21 budget, and to consider what that, or the alternative options, might entail.

 

The Cabinet Member and heads of department expanded on the content of the report, and also responded to questions/observations by the Members.

 

Children and Supporting Families Department Savings

 

During the discussion, concern was expressed by a number of members that the cut of £30,000 to Women's Aid would lead to greater costs to the Council in the long term, and the importance of a full assessment of the possible impact to the Council was emphasised.

 

In response to an enquiry, the Head of the Children and Supporting Families department explained that the historic plans were very ambitious.  She gave detail regarding the element which had already been realised, noting that a taskforce had been established to determine whether the remaining savings could be found elsewhere.  There was little detail to be had on this so far, but she noted that she could bring a report back to the committee in future.

 

The Chief Executive added that the taskforce's report could be brought back for members to observe, but as the Cabinet needed to make a fairly quick decision regarding the savings proposals, time was limited.

 

Adults, Health and Well-being Department

 

During the discussion, the following observations were submitted by members:

·         General concern was expressed regarding the impact of the savings proposals on vulnerable county residents, and the importance of monitoring the impact was emphasised.

·         A number of members expressed particular concern regarding the proposal to cut two Mental Health Support Worker positions (£42,000), in light of the increasing demand for the service as a result of the significant increase in mental health problems amongst children and young people.  It was suggested that there was a need for more rather than fewer workers, and that this cut would ultimately cost more to the Council.  It was also noted that mental health was a Welsh Government and Health Board priority, and that the service should be provided by the Health Board.  However, the work was being passed on to the councils, which had insufficient resources to complete it. 

·         A number of members expressed particular concern regarding the proposal to reduce the budget for supporting carers, including some respite schemes (£19,000).  It was emphasised that the stress for families affected would be terrible and that this cut would ultimately cost more to the Council.

 

On a general note, an enquiry was made as to whether the Health Board contributed as it should, e.g. the cost of caring for vulnerable people discharged from hospitals fell on the Council.  In response, the Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department noted that the Council and the Health Board had a good relationship, acknowledging at the same time that there were certain challenges; however, he was of the opinion that the observation highlighted the strong argument for the integration of health and care on a local level.

 

In response to a further enquiry regarding the funding distribution arrangements between the Health Board and the councils on a regional level, the Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department noted that he, the Cabinet Member and the Social Services Statutory Director could look into the matter and bring the information back to the committee.

 

In response to the committee's observations, the Chief Executive noted that the scrutiny committee's role was to decide, should it be required that the Department submit savings proposals, whether the proposals listed in the report or other proposals would have the least impact on the county's vulnerable people.  He also noted that it was not possible to ask other departments to bear some of the burden, as all the Council's departments were in the same situation of having to find their share to address the deficit of £2m.

 

The Cabinet Member noted that the Department had thoroughly weighed out all options, and that the impact of any other proposals, not included on the list, would be even worse than those before the committee. 

 

The Chief Executive suggested that one possible way forward would be to ask the Department to look at the fields of highest expenditure, such as the older people sector in its entirety and third sector agreements.

 

In wake of the Chief Executive's comments and the committee's unwillingness to accept the proposals to make cuts in the fields of mental health and carers' services, it was suggested that the Department be asked to identify further cuts in the two fields which see the highest expenditure, namely third sector agreements or older people's services.

 

Housing and Property Department

 

During the discussion, the Department was congratulated for its method of identifying savings by internalising aspects of its work, and its intention to look at all similar opportunities in future was welcomed.

 

In response to an enquiry regarding the schemes which had not been achieved, the Head of Housing and Property Department explained that the Department was looking for other schemes. There would be a discussion regarding this at the next performance challenging meeting, and it was hoped that it would be possible to report back to this committee in the New Year.

 

RESOLVED

(a)  To approve the Housing and Property Department's proposals to achieve its share of relevant savings as ones which would have the least impact on residents.

(b)  To accept the reports on the proposals put forward by the Children and Supporting Families Department and the Adults, Health and Well-being Department to achieve their share of relevant savings; and to request that the Cabinet consider the committee's observation as to whether these truly were the proposals which would have the least impact before approving the savings.