Special Argyll and Bute HSCP Finance and Policy Committee held on 19 May 2025
Argyll and Bute Council · 28 May 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 28 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
MINUTES of MEETING of ARGYLL AND BUTE HSCP FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE held BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on MONDAY, 19 MAY 2025 Present: Councillor Dougie McFadzean (Chair) Graham Bell Councillor Gary Mulvaney Fiona Thomson Karen Leach Kenny Mathieson Tracey Whyte Attending: Evan Beswick, Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP Fiona Broderick, Staffside Lead, Argyll and Bute HSCP (Health) Charlotte Craig, Interim Head of Service Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute HSCP Linda Currie, Associate Director AHP, NHS Highland David Gibson, Chief Social Worker/Head of Children and Families and Justice, Argyll and Bute HSCP Nicola Gillespie, Interim Head of Adult Services (Mental Health, Disabilities, ASP & Dementia Services), Argyll and Bute HSCP James Gow, Head of Finance, Argyll and Bute HSCP Councillor Kieron Green, Argyll and Bute Council Elizabeth Higgins, Associate Nurse Director, NHS Highland Julie Hodges, Independent Sector Representative Alison McGrory, Associate Director of Public Health, Argyll and Bute HSCP Councillor Ross Moreland, Argyll and Bute Council Kirstie Reid, Carers Representative, NHS Highland Angela Tillery, Principal Accountant, Argyll and Bute Council Donald Watt, Interim Head of Adult Services (Acute and Community Care), Argyll and Bute HSCP Katie McKenzie, Committee Services Officer, Argyll and Bute Council 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE There were no apologies for absence. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 3. SOCIAL WORK / SOCIAL CARE FINANCIAL RECOVERY The Committee gave consideration to a report outlining proposed Financial Recovery actions to address the budget shortfall. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. endorsed the recovery actions outlined in the report;
Page 2
2. noted that the report sits alongside other work on the delivery of approved savings and development of further options; and 3. agreed to refer the Recovery Plan to the Integration Joint Board. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 19 May 2025, submitted) 4. OLDER ADULT SERVICES EFFICIENCY - CEILING OF CARE The Committee gave consideration to a report outlining a proposed approach to implementing a ceiling of care within Adult Services – Care at Home. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. considered and endorsed the content of the report; 2. noted that it was proposed that no further Care at Home packages would be authorised above the ceiling of care without Chief Officer approval; and 3. noted that existing packages above this level would be reviewed systematically and the provision offered / commissioned by the HSCP was anticipated to reduce accordingly; 4. noted that an EQIA for the proposal was attached as an appendix; 5. agreed that a community consultation exercise would be undertaken in order to produce a more robust EQIA; and 6. agreed to refer this paper to a future meeting of the Integration Joint Board for final approval. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance and Head of Adult Services dated 19 May 2025, submitted) 5. INTEGRATION JOINT BOARDS - FINANCE BULLETIN 2023/24 The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing Audit Scotland’s recently published annual analysis of Integration Joint Board accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted the content of the report published by Audit Scotland; 2. noted the severe financial and operational challenges that continue to face Health and Social Care; and 3. noted that the Argyll and Bute HSCP was in a relatively favourable financial position at the end of the 2023/24 year.
Page 3
(Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 19 May 2025, submitted) 6. CARE HOMES STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT - STAGE 1 OUTPUT The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an overview of the main findings of stage 1 of the Care Homes Strategic Assessment. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted the Care Homes Strategic Assessment stage 1 report; 2. noted that the report clearly demonstrated a mismatch between current care home capacity and provision and current and future anticipated demand; and 3. noted that the HSCP was progressing to Stage 2 in partnership with Hub North. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance and Head of Adult Services dated 19 May 2025, submitted) 7. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The Finance and Policy Committee noted the date of the next meeting as Tuesday 24 June 2025.