Issue - meetings

Purpose of the item: Scrutiny of the Draft Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

Witnesses:

Mark Nuti, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health

Sinead Mooney, Cabinet Member for Adults Social Care

David Lewis, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources.

Nicola Kilvington, Director of Corporate Strategy & Policy, Surrey County Council

Rachel Wigley, Director, Finance Insights & Performance

William House, Strategic Finance Business Partner for Adults, Wellbeing and Health Partnerships

Sarah Kershaw, Strategic Director of Adults, Health, and Wellbeing

Nicola O’Connor, Strategic Finance Business Partner

Paul Richards, Area Director East & Mid Surrey, Adult Social Care (ASC)

Jonathan Lillistone, Assistant Director of Integrated Commissioning

Nikki Roberts, CEO, Surrey Coalition of Disabled People

Key points raised during the discussion:

1. The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources introduced the Item and provided an overview on the draft budget for 2024/25 and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2028/29.

2. The Chairman questioned if there had been any further opportunities identified to work cooperatively with the borough and district councils to close any budget gaps. The Strategic Director of Adults, Health and Wellbeing explained that the Directorate worked closely with the district and borough councils in delivering care, but there were several financial challenges within some of these councils that increased difficulties in how the Directorate would deliver services in the future, but options to work together more effectively would always be explored. A Member asked if the Directorate was anticipating service withdrawals from borough and district councils. The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources explained that there could be a risk partners resorting to statutory rather than discretionary services, which could have consequences for the Council. There was currently no direct indication that services would be withdrawn. The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care highlighted that the Council funded some district and borough council schemes such as ‘meals on wheels’ and the Directorate were committed to continue this.

3. A Member questioned whether the Service was being ambitious enough in extra care housing numbers.The Cabinet Member for Adults Social Care explained the Directorate was bound by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulations, which restricts the size, height and density of properties, and number of residents. The Director of Integrated Commissioninghighlighted that the Directorate would avoid introducing risk and officers who were working on the programme had been as ambitious as possible with the number of units. Good progress had been made on Regulation 3 applications, with planning approval on the Guildford site and construction starting in 2024, outline planning approval for three sites in the next part of the programme, and the remaining three sites would be due to come forward for outline planning approval. Overall, this means that the Directorate are at 360 units towards the 725 targets, with further plans in the pipeline to achieve the full target.

Abby King and Robert Evans arrived at 10.32 am.

4. In reference to the Medium-Term Position being uncertain with continued pressures, the Chairman asked what opportunities there were to put in place Transformation programmes, which could alter major cost drivers. The Strategic Director of Adults, Health and Wellbeing explained there were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44