Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

Chris Holley declared a personal interest.

No declarations were made.

Questions must be submitted in writing, no later than noon on the working day prior to the meeting.  Questions must relate to items on the agenda.  Questions must be dealt with in a 10 minute period.

No questions were received.

Invited to attend are Cllr Louise Gibbard, Cabinet Member for Care Services, Cllr Alison Pugh, Cabinet Member for Well-being, Cllr Hayley Gwilliam, Cabinet Member for Community and relevant Social Services officers.

Link to Cabinet Papers for 16 February 2023, which contain the budget proposals (papers should be available online from 9 February 2023).

The Panel is asked to discuss and agree its views and recommendations on the budget proposals in relation to Adult Services and Child and Family Services that it would like to make to Cabinet.

The conveners of each of the performance panels will feed in the views of their panel to the Service Improvement and Finance Performance Panel, which meets on 14 February and has been convened to specifically look at the draft budget.  Chris Holley, Convener of the Service Improvement and Finance Performance Panel will then attend Cabinet on the 16 February to feed in the collective views of scrutiny.

Councillors Louise Gibbard and Hayley Gwilliam along with relevant officers attended and went through the proposed budget proposals in relation to Adult Services, Child and Family Services and Poverty and Prevention, highlighting the main issues and answering questions.

The Panel agreed the following views and recommendations on the budget proposals in relation to Social Services it would like to make to Cabinet:

• The Panel is encouraged to see an increase in the overall budget for Social Services for 2023/24 and welcomes the way Social Services has operated with a higher level of efficiency.
• Overall, the Panel understands that £6 million savings is necessary but is concerned about the 10% increase in fees and charges and the effect of this on the 25% of people affected by the increase, who are already hard pressed.
• The Panel understands there is a proposed saving of £1 million to be raised from vacant posts but is concerned this could result in increased use of agency staff and will be monitoring this at future meetings.
• The Panel understands savings of £500k are proposed by reducing placements in Child and Family Services and hopes this is achievable in the current climate.
• The Panel is interested in the idea of strengthening organisational co-production and supports a common approach.  
• The impact of re-commissioning services is not fully understood, in terms of the budget set, and will have to be monitored closely.

The Convener of the Service Improvement and Finance Panel will attend Cabinet on 16 February to feed in the collective views of the scrutiny performance panels and write a letter to the Cabinet Member.