Argyll and Bute HSCP Finance and Policy Committee held on 23 February 2024
Argyll and Bute Council · 27 March 2024
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 27 March 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, 23 FEBRUARY 2024 Present: Councillor Amanda Hampsey (Chair) Kenny Mathieson Councillor Gary Mulvaney Karen Leach Fiona Thomson Attending: Fiona Davies, Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP James Gow, Head of Finance, Argyll and Bute HSCP Fiona Broderick, Staffside, Argyll and Bute HSCP Alison McGrory, Associate Director of Public Health, Argyll and Bute HSCP Evan Beswick, Head of Primary Care, Argyll and Bute HSCP Caroline Cherry, Head of Adult Services – Health and Community Care, Argyll and Bute HSCP Kristin Gillies, Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute HSCP David Gibson, Head of Children, Families and Justice, Argyll and Bute Council Charlotte Craig, Business Improvement Manager, Argyll and Bute HSCP Angela Tillery, Principal Accountant, Argyll and Bute Council Lynsey Innis, Senior Committee Assistant, Argyll and Bute Council 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Graham Bell. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest intimated. 3. MINUTES The Minute of the Meeting of the Finance and Policy Committee, held on 26 January 2024, was approved as a correct record. 4. BUDGET MONITORING - 10 MONTHS TO 31 JANUARY 2024 The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided a summary of the financial position of the HSCP as at 31 January 2024. The report also provided information in respect of the year to date position, the financial outturn, the progress with the savings plan and reserves spend.
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Decision The Finance and Policy Committee:- 1. Noted that a small forecast underspend of £254k was reported. 2. Noted that savings of £7m have been delivered, 78% of target. 3. Noted that reserves of £7m have been committed to date. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance, dated 23 February 2024, submitted) 5. BUDGET PREPARATION UPDATE Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on progress being made to address the budget gap for 2024/25, as outlined in the budget outlook presented in January 2024. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee:- 1. Noted the savings proposals that have been costed to date. 2. Noted that work was on-going to develop further savings plans and Equality Impact Assessments. 3. Noted that the HSCP, with NHS Highland expect to be in a financial recovery position in 2024/25 and additional controls are likely to be in place. 4. Noted that significant short term service reductions are required if the HSCP is required to balance its NHS Budget in 2024/25. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance, dated 23 February 2024, submitted) 6. IFRS15 REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS Consideration was given to a report which outlined the issues raised in NHS external audits in 2022/23 relating to the application of IFRS 15 in the accounting of inter- board Service Level Agreements; the proposed solutions to these issues in 2023/24; the implications for annual accounts reporting and the ongoing work to find a permanent solution. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee:- 1. Noted that Health Boards must be compliant with IFRS 15 in 2023/24. 2. Noted the proposed solutions to issues raised by external audit in the 2022/23 annual accounts audits.
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3. Noted the recommendation to the National Directors of Finance (NHS) Group for 2023/24 year end reporting. 4. Noted the impact that approval of this recommendation will have on the HSCP accounts for 2023/24. 5. Noted the ongoing work to find a permanent solution for future years. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance, dated 23 February 2024, submitted) 7. KINTYRE CARE AT HOME - SERVICE TRANSFER The Committee gave consideration to a report which sought retrospective approval for the transfer of Kintyre care at home service from Carr Gomm to the HSCP (employed by Argyll and Bute Council). Decision The Finance and Policy Committee agreed the recommendations contained within the report. (Reference: Report by Head of Adult Care – Health and Community Care, dated 23 February 2024, submitted) 8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The Finance and Policy Committee noted that their next meeting was scheduled to take place on Friday, 22 March 2024.