Argyll and Bute HSCP Finance and Policy Committee held on 27 September 2024
Argyll and Bute Council · 27 November 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 27 November 2024 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 BY MICROSOFT TEAMS on FRIDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2024 Present: Councillor Dougie McFadzean (Chair) Graham Bell (Vice Chair) Kenny Mathieson Karen Leach Fiona Thomson Attending: Evan Beswick, Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP Fiona Broderick, Staffside Lead, Argyll and Bute HSCP (Health) Caroline Cherry, Head of Adult Services – Health and Community Care, Argyll and Bute HSCP David Gibson. Chief Social Worker / Head of Children and Families and Justice, Argyll and Bute HSCP Kristin Gillies, Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute HSCP James Gow, Head of Finance, Argyll and Bute HSCP Hazel MacInnes, Senior Committee Officer, Argyll and Bute Council Alison McGrory, Associate Director of Public Health, Argyll and Bute HSCP Katie McKenzie, Committee Services Officer, Argyll and Bute Council Angela Tillery, Principal Accountant, Argyll and Bute Council 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Gary Mulvaney. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest intimated. 3. MINUTES The Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance and Policy Committee held on 28 June 2024 were approved as a correct record. The Head Strategic Planning, Performance and Transformation noted that she had not been present at the meeting therefore the Head of Finance had presented her report at Item 9 – Transformation Board Update. Kenny Mathieson joined the meeting during consideration of the following item of business.
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4. BUDGET MONITORING - 5 MONTHS TO 31 AUGUST 2024 The Committee gave consideration to a report providing a summary of the financial position as at the end of month 5 and a forecast for the year. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted that the HSCP had overspent its budget by £961k; 2. noted that an overspend of £2.1m was forecast; 3. noted actions were required to reduce spend and additional funding was likely to be required from Argyll & Bute Council who hold pension saving resource on behalf of the IJB; 4. noted that savings of £4.4m had been delivered, 67% of target; 5. noted that reserves of £10.2m had been allocated; and 6. noted the risks associated with the financial position and challenges across the Health and Care Sector. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 27 September 2024, submitted) 5. BUDGET OUTLOOK AND BUDGET 2025/26 UPDATE The Committee gave consideration and had a robust discussion around the report detailing an estimate of the budget gap for 2025/26 and a summary of progress made in developing plans to achieve a balanced budget. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted that budget planning for 2025/26 was on-going and national budgeting intentions were not yet available; 2. noted the HSCP was not currently operating on a financially sustainable basis; 3. noted the estimated budget gap and provisional savings target of £11.5m for 2025/26; and 4. noted the on-going work and next steps in the budget preparation process. (Report by Head of Finance dated 27 September 2024, submitted) 6. INTEGRATION JOINT BOARDS - FINANCE AND PERFORMANCE 2024 Following Audit Scotland’s annual report on Integration Joint Boards (IJBs), the Committee considered a report providing an overview of the challenges and
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performance of IJBs, with a particular focus on finance based upon the annual accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted the contents of the report published by Audit Scotland; and 2. noted that the HSCP would seek to address the recommendations made by Audit Scotland. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 27 September 2024, submitted) 7. FINANCIAL RISKS 2024-25 The Committee gave consideration to a report summarising the key perceived financial risks facing the Health and Social Care Partnership in the current year. There were 4 risks identified with a potential adverse impact of £2.1m not included in the budget or forecast. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee considered the 2024/25 financial risks identified and noted the mitigations. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance dated 27 September 2024, submitted) 8. TRANSFORMATION BOARD REDESIGN - UPDATE The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing the latest update against the seven agreed key transformation projects for 2024/25. In addition there was a brief update on the 18 week Meridian Productivity work which has begun across the HSCP with the aim of improving person-centred health and social care services by providing practical steps, tools, and models to enhance service delivery. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. acknowledged the latest update with regards to the seven Transformation Projects for 2024/25; and 2. acknowledged Health and Social Care Partnership engagement with Meridian Productivity with regards to Releasing Time to Care. (Reference: Report by Head of Planning, Performance and Technology dated 27 September 2024, submitted)
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9. FUTURE OF LONG-TERM CARE IN SCOTLAND The Committee gave consideration to a wide-ranging strategic report by the Commission on the Future of Long-Term Care in Scotland, sponsored by Alzheimer Scotland on the future of long-term care. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted the contents of the report by the Commission on the Future of Long-Term Care in Scotland; and 2. noted that its recommendations would be considered by the Care Home and Housing Project Board as part of the development of the Older People Strategy. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance and Head of Adult Services dated 27 September 2024, submitted) 10. EXTERNAL PLACEMENTS FOR CHILDREN The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing external placements for children and the associated budgetary pressures. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee – 1. noted the current number and cost of external placements; 2. noted the rising level of need since the pandemic lockdown period; 3. noted the current and anticipated budget gap for external placements and that previous overspends had been accommodated within the Children & Families budget; 4. noted that this expenditure was intrinsically intertwined with Education resources, budgets and spending; 5. noted the magnitude of overall underspend in the Children & Families budget in the previous two financial years and that this had not been able to be invested in the service; 6. supported a fundamental review of the ‘models of care’; and 7. understood the outcomes of this review would require short to medium term investment in prevention and early intervention to achieve a long term downturn in the use of external resources. (Reference: Report by Head of Children, Families and Justice dated 27 September 2024, submitted)
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11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The Finance and Policy Committee noted the date of the next meeting as Friday 22 November 2024.