[To consider a report on the Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2020-2021 to 2023-2024]. 

The Finance Business Partner presented a report on the Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2020-2021 to 2023-2024.  He commented that there weren’t any specific saving proposals which fell within the remit of the Panel.  They were seeking feedback on the budget relevant to the remit of the Panel and how it was aligned to the priorities of the Council.  In addition they were asking for feedback on the Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2020-2021 to 2023-2024, including budget proposals that were relevant to the remit of the Panel.  In October 2019, Cabinet had been informed that after taking into account projected changes to corporate resources and emerging pressures, the projected remaining budget deficit for 2020-2021 would be in the region of £3.9 million, rising to £20 million over the medium term period to 2023-2024. 

The Finance Business Partner stated that the report also made reference to the Medium Term Financial Strategy including provision for a real terms increase to the Public Health Grant budget in 2020-2021.  This had been announced by the Government in the Spending Round 2019 to ensure local authorities could continue to provide prevention and Public Health interventions.

The Director for Public Health remarked that the £20 million grant from Government to Public Health did come with some mandatory requirements, which included having to provide the Healthy Child Programme, Sexual Health Services and NHS Health checks.  Despite the Public Health Grant being reduced year on year, it was refreshing to be able to list the successes detailed in paragraph 5.3 of the report.  This had included increasing the number of health checks offered to the eligible population.  The City had moved from one of the lowest performing areas to top quartile within the year. 

The Director for Public Health commented that the number of rough sleepers had reduced, which was pleasingly in contrast to the national trend.  Substance misuse treatment had significantly improved meaning recovery rates were better with more people finding employment.  They had moved from a treatment to recovery focus.  The performance of the Healthy Child Programme was at its best since Public Health had transferred to the Council in 2013.  He believed the most important check to be at 2 -2.5 years old as this was to try and ensure every child was ready for school.  Performance was currently at 72.6%.  They were working closely in partnership with the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust on the Healthy Child Programme.  Public Health also provided the drug and alcohol services for the City, which was not a mandatory requirement, but a requirement locally. 

The Chair referred to the budget risks in appendix 1 to the report detailed on pages 26 and 27 of the agenda pack.  As some of the risks were out of the authority’s control, he asked what the Council was doing to mitigate them.  He noted that four items were currently listed as red risks.  The Financial Business Partner commented that the fact that the risks had been identified enabled the Council to better prepare.  They were always addressing whether the risk was appropriate and constantly reviewing emerging pressures.  The Director for Adult Services stated that the Council would continue to look for proposals to help contribute towards the savings gap.  

A Member of the Panel stated that it would be helpful for a footnote on the risk register to identify whether it was external funding or resources and therefore outside of the Council’s control. 

Resolved: That the Scrutiny Panel response be finalised by the Chair and Vice Chair of the Scrutiny Panel and forwarded to Scrutiny Board for consideration.