PAPER B4

Committee : SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT COMMITTEE

Date : 4 SEPTEMBER 2002

Title : BUDGET MONITORING REPORT AS AT END OF JULY 02

REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING

1. SUMMARY/PURPOSE

This report sets out the budget and spending position on both revenue and capital for the services within this Committee remit, as at the end of July. The figures do not include budgets that are controlled elsewhere. These are monitored by the Committee, which bears responsibility for the item concerned. (For example, Resources Select Committee monitors the building maintenance budget centrally, and building maintenance costs are not therefore shown against individual services below).

2. REVENUE EXPENDITURE (2002/03)

The expenditure and income up to 31st July 2002 for the Social Services and Housing budgets are set out in Appendix 1.

The promoting independence grant was unexpectedly reduced this year leading to a cost pressure of £148,000 on independent living resource centres. These are of central importance in reducing hospital bed blocking and promoting independence.

The Directorate is currently projecting a potential underspend at the end of the financial year of approximately £850,000. This is 1.7% of the gross budget for the Directorate. This allows for absorbing the above cost pressure caused by the reduction in the promoting independence grant. This potential underspend is occurring within the community care budget. It must be stressed that at this early stage in the financial year this figure should be viewed with much caution and activity levels are being analysed to see if we can confirm this apparent downward trend. The figure is subject to fluctuation as the year progresses. For example any additional placements which may be made in the winter months could reduce this underspend significantly. It should also be borne in mind that some types of placement are extremely expensive which if these occur could again significantly reduce any projected underspend. It is therefore not possible to draw any firm conclusions about the likely outturn for the year at this stage.

3. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

The expenditure is set out in Appendix 2. We will be reporting on this area at each Committee. Most of the allocation is for social housing. The pattern of expenditure tends to mean that most of the money is spent in the last quarter of the financial year.

Contact Point : Kerry Hubbleday/Dawn Cousins, ( 520600 ext. 2213/2240

C WADDICOR

Strategic Director of Social Services and Housing