PAPER D
SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT
COMMITTEE – 22 JANUARY 2004
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES & HOUSING
REASON FOR SELECT
COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
During the preceding 3 months a series of events have been held to
produce an investment framework for the Social Services & Housing Directorate.
The results are provided to the Scrutiny Committee for further consideration.
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
To Debate and Make Recommendations
BACKGROUND
For the financial years 2002/03 and 2003/04 the Council agreed
significant additional investment to the Social Services & Housing
Directorate (£2.808m/11.2% growth in 2002/3 and £2.777m/9.3% growth in 2003/4).
This has made a significant contribution to the Directorate’s 2 star status for
those years.
Throughout Autumn and Winter 2003 a “headroom” exercise across the
Council was initiated to produce potential areas for disinvestments. This was
intended to assist the Council reconcile the need for additional expenditure in
key areas of service with a desire for low levels of Council tax rise in
2004/2005.
At the same time the Directorate produced Service Plans for 2004/05 in
accordance with the Council’s planning process. By August 2003 the Service
Plans had been concluded and included an investment requirement of £3.1M. (See Appendix A).
Within the context of the Council’s overall pressures and expectations
it was clear that such a figure for growth would not be acceptable or
affordable. Accordingly, officers working alongside the Portfolio Holder, Chief
Financial Officer and the Best Value Unit undertook to reduce the growth figure
and identify areas for dis-investment or efficiencies as part of the headroom
exercise mentioned above.
The result of this work was an investment package which sought to span
the next 3 financial years – to 2006. The aspiration being to profile
investment decisions against strategic issues over the medium term, aid
planning, market management and, avoid peaks and troughs in the budget cycle.
The detail of this will be presented as a slide on the day in addition to areas
where extra economy was to be found.
RELEVANT PLANS,
POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
CONSULTATION PROCESS
Senior officers
within the Directorate, the Best Value Unit, the Chief Finance Officer, The
Chief Executive of the Council and the Portfolio Holder have been involved in
these activities.
Service Plans
themselves detail separate consultation processes.
There are significant financial implications as detailed in the
Appendices. A Risk Assessment has been produced by the Directorate in
conjunction with the Council’s overall planning processes for 2004/05. A number
refer to the possible consequences of failure to make necessary investments.
There are no perceived legal or crime and disorder implications arising
from this report.
APPENDICES
ATTACHED
Appendix A - Summary of original
resource bids within Service Plans
Relevant Service Plans, the SSI review of performance letter (September 2003), the SSI Chief Inspectors Annual Report (November 2003), the draft Housing Strategy, Homelessness Strategy (2003).
Contact Point : Relevant Heads of Service as identified on Service
Plans or Glen Garrod, 01983-520600 ext 2225 email: [email protected]