Argyll and Bute HSCP Finance and Policy Committee held on 25 February 2025
Argyll and Bute Council · 26 March 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 26 March 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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MINUTES of MEETING of ARGYLL AND BUTE HSCP FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE held in the BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on TUESDAY, 25 FEBRUARY 2025 Present: Councillor Dougie McFadzean (Chair) Karen Leach Kenny Mathieson Graham Bell Fiona Thomson Councillor Gary Mulvaney Attending: Fiona Broderick, Staffside Lead, Argyll and Bute HSCP (Health) Caroline Cherry, Head of Adult Services - Health and Community Care, Argyll and Bute HSCP Charlotte Craig, Interim Head of Service Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute HSCP John Dreghorn, Service Improvement Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP Fiona Duff, Interim Head of Primary Care, 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 Rebecca Helliwell, Depute Medical Director, Argyll and Bute HSCP Julie Hodges, Independent Sector Representative Gillian McCready, Service Improvement Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP Elaine McMillan, Operations Manager – Care at Home, Argyll and Bute HSCP Janice Preston, NHS Highland Non-Executive Board Member Takki Sulaiman, Chief Executive, Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface Angela Tillery, Principal Accountant, Argyll and Bute Council Katie McKenzie, Committee Services Officer, Argyll and Bute Council 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Tracey White. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 3. MINUTES The Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance and Policy Committee held on 21 January 2025 were approved as a correct record subject to the addition of Councillor Gary Mulvaney’s apologies under Item 1.
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4. BUDGET UPDATE 2025/26 The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing an estimate of the budget gap for 2025/26 and a summary of progress made in developing savings plans. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted that budget planning for 2025/26 was on-going; 2. noted the HSCP was not operating on a financially sustainable basis; 3. noted the budget gap before savings and use of non-recurring resources was £15.6m; 4. noted that there was currently a budget gap of £9.1m after taking into account savings proposals and non-recurring resourcing; 5. endorsed the savings proposals to date; and 6. noted that the HSCP expects to be reliant upon additional funding from both partners in 2025/26 and the implications were being discussed with both partners. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 25 February 2025, submitted) 5. BUDGET MONITORING - 10 MONTHS TO 31 JANUARY 2025 The Committee gave consideration to a report providing a summary of the financial position as at the end of month 10 and a forecast for the year. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted that the HSCP had overspent its budget by £2.5m; 2. noted an overspend of £3.2m was forecast; 3. noted Argyll & Bute Council had confirmed the HSCP could access £3.05m in pension saving resource they hold on behalf of the IJB; 4. noted that reserves would be utilised to cover the remaining deficit and new projects funded from this source were on hold; and 5. noted savings of £5.1m had been delivered, 77% of target. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 25 February 2025, submitted) 6. CARE AT HOME EFFICIENCY
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The Committee gave consideration to a report outlining processes to improve demand management and reduce spend on Care at Home. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted the continued overspend on care at home (older adults); 2. noted and discussed the operational changes with care at home; and 3. discussed future ways to propose policy changes to care at home and engagement to accompany any changes (Reference: Report by Head of Service - Health and Community Care, Operations Manager - Care at Home and Service Improvement Officer dated 25 February 2025, submitted) 7. CARR GOMM CONTRACTS REVIEW - UPDATE REPORT (OPERATIONAL DECISION) The Committee gave consideration to a report advising that the contract for the Responder Service is due for renewal at the end of March 2025. This is a 24 hour a day response service to falls, urgent calls, welfare calls, support re continence and personal care. It sits alongside a range of other contracts for services which support older adults to live in their own homes and to support them upon leaving hospital. The report detailed negotiations with Carr Gomm regarding the contract. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted progress in negotiations with Carr Gomm regarding the reduction in contract value; 2. noted the proposal from Carr Gomm and the project groups agreement in principle with Carr Gomm to proceed on this basis; 3. noted the saving of £725k that would be generated through implementation; 4. noted the establishment of the Contract Spec and Risk Management & Communications sub-groups; and 5. noted that SLT approved the changes as outlined in the report and the formal notification to Carr Gomm that the HSCP would proceed with the proposed reduction in service (Reference: Report by Service Improvement Officer dated 25 February 2025, submitted) 8. COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE REVIEW
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The Committee gave consideration to a report reviewing the Committee Terms of Reference to ensure that they are still fit for purpose and meet the oversight requirement of the Integration Joint Board. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee reviewed the Terms of Reference and approved them for recommendation to the Integration Joint Board. (Reference: Report by Interim Head of Service Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology dated 25 February 2025, submitted) 9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The Finance and Policy Committee noted the date of the next meeting as Tuesday 18 March 2025 and agreed that an invitation would be extended to all members of the Integration Joint Board.