Issue - items at meetings - Annual Review of Adult Social Care Charging Policy 2022-23

Report of the Executive Director, Health and Adult Social Care (copy attached)

RESOLVED – (1) That the Sub Committee agrees that the council continues with the current charging policy for care and support services which includes an individual financial assessment to determine affordability and complies with the requirementsof Section 17 of the Care Act 2014;

*(2) That the Sub Committee agrees to a 3.1% increase on all current charges with effect from 11 April 2022;

*(3) That the Sub Committee agrees an increase to miscellaneous fees at 3.1% as follows in the report;

(4) That the Sub Committee agrees an increase to Carelink charges as 3.1% as follows in the report; and

(5) That the Sub Committee agress to continue with the existing policy not to charge carers for any direct provision of support to carers.

* Note: The above resolutions reflect the Labour Group amendment which was accepted at Committee and therefore became and were agreed as its substantive resolutions.

39.1    The Sub Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Health and Adult Social Care detailing the annual review of the Adult Social Care Charging Policy 2022-23.

39.2    It was noted that the Care Act 2014 provided councils with power to charge for care and support services subject to a means test which was set down in government regulations with prescribed limitations.

39.3    It was noted that a proposed amendment had been received from the Labour Group proposed by Councillor Appich and seconded by Councillor Fowler as set out below:

2.1 To agree that the council continues with the current charging policy for care and support services which includes an individual financial assessment to determine affordability and complies with the requirements of Section 17 of the Care Act 2014;

2.2 To agree to a 53.1% increase on all current charges with the exception of Carelinkat 3.1% with effect from 11th April 2022:

2.3 To agree an increase to miscellaneous fees at 53.1% as follows (set out in the report);

2.4 To agree an increase to Carelink charges at 3.1% as follows (set out in the report); and

2.5 To continue with the existing policy not to charge carers for any direct provision of support to carers.

39.4    Councillor Appich was invited to speak to her proposed amendment and explained that she was very concerned that increasing the charges for those were not on very large incomes and where the threshold was not particularly high who were facing increased a doubling of fuel and other costs as well and their families were too, would have a very detrimental impact. As far as she could see and she had looked this up for increasing by 3 point 1% to ask for a five point was too steep and would therefore seek for a 3.1% increase. Figures had been provided to Policy and Resources Committee in early December 2021, she did not have those figures with her but she believed that those had figures had been based on a 3.1% increase and life had moved on since then anyway and updated figures to the Policy and Resources Committee were currently awaited. The amendment was recommended for two reasons, firstly that she thought it was too much and secondly she could not see that the proposed increase fitted into any context at this stage and did not consider that the impact on Council budgets would be huge and sought clarification on that point.

39.5    The Head of Financial Assessments and Welfare Rights, Angela Emerson, explained that the rationale for the increases (which was in line with those proposed across Council budgets) was set out in the appendices towards the end of the report. This showed figures for five point 1% and what it would be at three point 1% and the overall difference between the which would be around £8,000, although that would be a guesstimate as it really depended on each individual using an in house and whether they had sufficient funds to pay or not because everyone was means tested.

39.6    In answer to questions regarding whether recent increases in line with CPI were accounted for in those figures it was explained that final detailed figures from the Government were still awaited.

39.7    Councillor Mears stated that she understood the points made and where the amendment was coming from but her biggest concern was that, the previous Adult Social Care Committee, which had been replaced by the Health and Wellbeing Board and now this Sub Committee but nowhere in that process had members seen the actual budget details at all and on that basis it was very difficult to give approval when she did not feel that she had sufficient information to give her approval, for those reasons she would be abstaining. In the past the predecessor of this Sub Committee had been given full budget details in advance of them being agreed at Policy and Resources Committee. By that means Members could see exactly what was being  spent and what the budget pressures were.

39.8    It was explained that all of the costs incomings and on-goings were monitored and that information as were the overall budget details which were agreed by the Policy and Resources Committee. Councillor Mears remained of the view that for her it was worrying that nowhere had Members actually seen the overall budget and on that basis she had insufficient knowledge to decide whether or not she was in agreement with the proposed amendment. Overall social care and health was one of the biggest spending budgets within the council and represented significant resources which the council had to find.

39.9    The Chair, Councillor Shanks, noted the comments made and stated that prior to approval of budgets in February of each year Members would not necessarily expect to see a budget as each meeting of a Sub Committee. However, she was in agreement that it was appropriate for these matters to be scrutinised and for that information to be provided to the Sub Committee.

39.10- The proposed amendments were then voted on and were agreed on a vote of 2 to 1 with 1 abstention and then therefore became the substantive resolutions of the Sub Committee, the original recommendations being lost. The resolution as set out below reflects the Labour Group Amendments which were agreed and are shown marked with an*.

39.--   RESOLVED – (1) That the Sub Committee agrees that the council continues with the current charging policy for care and support services which includes an individual financial assessment to determine affordability and complies with the requirements of Section 17 of the Care Act 2014;

*(2) That the Sub Committee agrees to a 3.1% increaseon all current charges with effect from 11 April 2022;

*(3) That the Sub Committee agrees an increase to miscellaneous fees at 3.1% as follows in the report;

(4) That the Sub Committee agrees an increase to Carelink charges as 3.1% as follows in the report; and

(5) That the Sub Committee agrees to continue with the existing policy not to charge carers for any direct provision of support to carers.

* Note: The above resolutions reflect the Labour Group amendment which was accepted at Committee and therefore became and were agreed as its substantive resolutions.