Argyll and Bute HSCP Finance and Policy Committee held on 22 March 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, 22 MARCH 2024 Present: Councillor Amanda Hampsey (Chair) Karen Leach Mathieson Graham Bell Attending: Fiona Davies, Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP James Gow, Head of Finance, Argyll and Bute HSCP Evan Beswick, Head of Primary Care, Argyll and Bute HSCP David Gibson, Head of Children, Families and Justice, Argyll and Bute HSCP Caroline Cherry, Head of Adult Services – Health and Community Care, Argyll and Bute HSCP Jillian Torrens, Head of Adult Services – Acute and Complex Care, Argyll and Bute HSCP Kristin Gillies, Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute HSCP 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 Councillor Gary Mulvaney, Fiona Thomson and Fiona Broderick. 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 23 February 2024, was approved as a correct record. 4. BUDGET MONITORING - 11 MONTHS TO 29 FEBRUARY 2024 The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided a summary of the financial position of the HSCP as at 29 February 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 underspend of £151k is forecast. 2. Noted that savings of £7.4m have been delivered, 83% of target. 3. Noted that reserves of £7m have been committed to date. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance, dated 22 March 2024, submitted) 5. BUDGET 2024/25 AND CONSULTATION Consideration was given to a report which sought approval for the budget and savings proposals for 2024/25. The report included information on the following sections:- • Financial and Strategic Context • Social Work Services Budget and Savings • NHS Services Budget and Savings • Summary HSCP Budget • Transformation and Investment • Reserves • Scenarios and Risks Discussion was had around the need for further consideration to be afforded to the Equality Impact Assessment’s in relation to best value and communication and engagement. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee:- 1. Noted that the HSCP is seeking approval for its budget spend of £329m which relies upon financial recovery, in-year savings and/or brokerage via NHS Highland totalling £2.7m. 2. Approved the budget and savings plan for 2024/25 outlined in the report. 3. Noted Equality Impact Assessments have been completed for relevant savings proposals and that these are publicly available. 4. Recommended that the Equality Impact Assessments be reviewed, with further information to be provided to the Integration Joint Board, at its meeting on 27 March 2024. 5. Noted that the Social Work Budget is partly funded by non-recurring pension fund savings to be held by Argyll and Bute Council for this purpose and for transformation.
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6. Noted that the HSCP expects to be operating on a financial recovery basis in 2024/25. 7. Noted that there may be a requirement to develop and implement additional service reduction plans urgently, these are likely to involve service cuts. 8. Noted that opening offers and directions are being finalised with partners and are expected to align with the budget. 9. Noted that the HSCP is proposing to utilise non-recurring funding to support services and that future funding gaps are substantial. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance, dated 22 March 2024, submitted) 6. CONSULTATION TRACKER The Committee gave consideration to the Consultation Tracker. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee noted the Consultation Tracker. (Reference: Consultation Tracker, submitted) 7. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The Finance and Policy Committee noted that their next meeting was scheduled to take place on Friday, 28 June 2024.