Agenda item

Agenda item

Budget Options for 2021/22

Report of the Chief Executive Manchester Local Care Organisation and Executive Director of Adult Social Services

 

This report details the service and financial planning and associated budget strategy work that is taking place for adult social care with partners across the health and care system.

 

It details the identified and proposed opportunities to make savings in 2021/22 aligned to the remit of the Health Scrutiny Committee, to support the City Council to achieve a balanced budget in 2021/22.

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Acting Chief Executive Manchester Local Care Organisation and Executive Director of Adult Social Services that detailed the service and financial planning and associated budget strategy work that is taking place for adult social care with partners across the health and care system.

 

The report detailed the identified and proposed opportunities to make savings in 2021/22 aligned to the remit of the Health Scrutiny Committee, to support the City Council to achieve a balanced budget in 2021/22.

 

As adult social care is both within the MHCC health and care pooled budget, works in partnership is increasingly focused on integrating with community health services through the Manchester Local Care Organisation (MLCO); this report is jointly presented to the Scrutiny Committee by the key partners of MHCC, MCC and MLCO, noting the areas that would be led by MLCO.

 

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

 

·         Commenting on how the pandemic had highlighted the consequences of continued and prolonged underfunding of NHS and Adult Social Care by central government;

·         Welcoming the Better Outcomes, Better Lives programme, noting that the level of savings from within this programme would increase in future years and substantively replace the one-off grant and support funding provided;

·         Commenting that the Health Scrutiny Committee should have regular updates and oversight of the delivery of the Better Outcomes, Better Lives;

·         More information was requested on the governance arrangements of the Manchester Partnership Board;

·         Noting the anticipated long term impact of COVID-19 on mental health, was the budget allocated to deliver mental health services sufficient to meet these demands both in the immediate and long term;

·         Members would welcome a separate briefing session on local pooled budget arrangements;

·         Welcoming the ongoing commitment to paying the National Living Wage; and

·         Welcoming the stated commitment to ensure that as service plans for neighbourhoods were shared with the relevant elected members and other key stakeholders as they are developed.

 

The Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing advised the Committee of the significant pressures that had been placed on services and budgets as a result of COVID-19. She commented that this been exacerbated by continued and repeated cuts to funding imposed by the government. She stated that the government had failed to deliver on their commitment to address Adult Social Care and she called on the Chancellor to adequately and fairly fund all local authorities. She stated that despite these cuts Manchester had worked to respond to these challenges and support the most vulnerable residents in the city. She described that the Better Outcomes, Better Lives programme was one example of innovative working and she gave a commitment that the Committee would be regularly updated on the delivery of this programme.

 

The Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing further commented that Public Health services would be reviewed in line with all funding announcements and the Committee would be kept informed with any developments.

 

The Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing informed the Members that there was political representation on the Manchester Partnership Board, stating that she was appointed to the Board. She stated that further information on the work of the Board and the organisational arrangements could be submitted for consideration at a future meeting.

 

The Interim Deputy Director of Adult Social Services noted the positive comments from Members regarding the Better Outcomes, Better Lives programme and commented that it was important to note that this was supported by the work force who were essential for the successful delivery.

 

In response to the comments regarding mental health budgets, the Director of Finance Manchester Local Care Organisation stated that the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust were managing and delivering these services within the budgets that were available to them.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agree the savings proposals as described within the report and endorse these to the Executive.

 

Supporting documents: