Finance and Policy Committee held on 18 March 2022
Argyll and Bute Council · 25 May 2022
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 25 May 2022 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, 18 MARCH 2022 Present: Councillor Kieron Green (Chair) Kenny Mathieson Graham Bell Elizabeth Higgins Councillor Sandy Taylor Attending: George Morrison, Depute Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP James Gow, Head of Finance and Transformation, Argyll and Bute HSCP Caroline Cherry, Head of Adult Services, Argyll and Bute HSCP Stephen Whiston, Head of Strategic Planning and Performance, Argyll and Bute HSCP Charlotte Craig, Business Improvement Manager, Argyll and Bute HSCP Abbie MacIver, Accountant, Argyll and Bute Council Fiona Broderick, Staffside, Argyll and Bute HSCP Lynsey Innis, Senior Committee Assistant, Argyll and Bute Council 1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of:- Sarah Compton-Bishop, Non-executive Board Member Fiona Davies, Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP Kevin McIntosh, Staffside, Argyll and Bute Council 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest intimated. 3. MINUTES The minute of the previous meeting of the Finance and Policy Committee, held on 25 February 2022, was approved as a correct record. 4. BUDGET MONITORING - 11 MONTHS TO 28 FEBRUARY 2022 The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided a summary of the financial position of the Health and Social Care Partnership for the 11 months to 28 February 2022 and an updated financial forecast for the year. The report also provided an update on the savings programme and additional in-year funding allocation to help manage winter pressures. Decision
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The Finance and Policy Committee:- 1. Noted that the forecast outturn position is an underspend of £250k. 2. Noted the additional funding allocation by the Scottish Government and the terms associated with it (appendix 4). 3. Noted that unspent funds will be carried forward as earmarked reserves. 4. Noted that the IJB now expects to repay debt owed to Argyll and Bute Council early, estimated at an additional payment totalling £1.8m. 5. Noted that there is a year to date underspend of £224k at 28 February 2022. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance and Transformation, dated 18 March 2022, submitted) 5. BUDGET 2022/23 The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided a proposed budget and associated savings plan for 2022/23 for approval by the IJB on 30 March 2022. The report followed on from a range of related reports considered in recent meetings which provided the Budget Outlook, a summary of the Scottish Budget, set the savings target, outlined draft budget proposals and the consultation process and focused primarily on the development of a budget for the HSCP for 2022/23 that was based on the mid-range scenario outlined in previous planning documents. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee:- 1. Reviewed the proposed balanced budget for 2022/23 prior to its consideration by the IJB on 30 March 2022. 2. Noted the outcome of the public consultation process and that this had been considered in the amendments to the savings plan. 3. Endorsed the reduced savings target and programme, as assumed in the budget. 4. Noted that the HSCP will implement contract uplifts to ensure that all care staff receive a minimum of £10.50 per hour from 1 April and that this is fully funded. 5. Noted and endorsed the intention to repay the debt to Argyll and Bute Council early and establish a reserve for capital investment and service transformation as funding allows. (Reference: Report by Head of Finance and Transformation, dated 18 March 2022, submitted) 6. SAVINGS PROGRESS UPDATE - CORPORATE
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Consideration was given to a report which provided a summary of the Corporate Services savings position as at 31 January 2022, the current challenges to delivery of the savings and planned actions to progress the outstanding savings. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee:- 1. Noted the progress in respect of the 2021/22 Corporate Savings Programme and savings to be carried into 2022/23 as at 31 January 2022. 2. Noted the challenges to achieving savings in 2021/22. 3. Noted the planned Corporate Savings Programme for 2022/23. (Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, dated 18 March 2022, submitted) 7. CHILDREN AND FAMILIES UPDATE Consideration was given to a report which summarised the progress to date of the Children and Families savings programme and its approach to longer term transformation. Decision The Finance and Policy Committee:- 1. Considered the progress the Service is making towards meeting its approved savings targets. 2. Noted the Service’s approach to long term transformation. (Reference: Report by Head of Children and Families, dated 18 March 2022, submitted) 8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The Finance and Policy Committee noted that the date of the next meeting was scheduled to take place on Friday, 22 April 2022.