The Director of Corporate Services gave an overview of the report and said there are some new savings for the panel to consider  and £6.2 million worth of savings overall previously agreed. The Government settlement is due in December.

The Chief Executive of Merton Centre for Independent Living addressed the Panel.

The Chief Executive of Merton Centre for Independent Living expressed concern about the £1.387 million cuts for 2018-19  and  impact this would have on older and disabled people. She requested for more detail about where the savings will be made and asked for the associated equalities impact assessments to be provided. She reported that  all areas of adult social care are struggling financially. She requested an ongoing dialogue and to have the opportunity to speak at scrutiny or other council meetings as she felt this was not always accommodated.

The Chair confirmed with her this Panel always accommodated her request to speak.

The Director of Community and Housing set out the current arrangements. The Council provides care for nearly 2,000 people very month, including older people with physical disabilities, people with learning disabilities, people suffering from poor mental health and people suffering from substance misuse. 43% of the overall council budget is allocated to Community and Housing Department. Adult Social Care budget is 92% of the total Community and Housing budget, the largest area of controllable spend the council has. Adult Social Care has seen £9.3 million of growth monies invested in 2017/18.

The green paper on funding is anticipated and will focus on the long term solutions for funding in adult social care at a time of unprecedented growth in older populations and solutions beyond the additional £2bn pledged until 2020. We also await the Ten Year NHS Plan.

We believe there will be a strong focus on integration. We will need to work up more detailed plans once published and when the budget and government grants are finalised. The Equality Impact Assessments are working documents that will develop as we scope further how we deliver the proposed savings plans.

Nationally adult social care needs the green paper proposals to deliver significant new money into the system. Merton is no different and this has to form part of future sustainability and it is important to look locally and find local solutions that delivers better outcomes for borough residents.

In response to a request from the Panel,  the Director of Corporate Services agreed to provide details to the panel of the previously agreed savings which are also available on the Merton Council website.(Page 404 of the Business Plan report agreed at Council 28 February 2018)

The Director of Corporate Services said there will be an opportunity to debate savings again in January.

A panel member asked how officers manage issues such as child protection referrals which are on the increase nationally. The Director of Corporate Services said there has been national studies to understand increase, not a huge rise in Merton but the safeguarding MASH team is well resourced to respond.

RESOLVED

The Director of Corporate Services was thanked for her report