Issue - meetings

(Item B5 – Report by Managing Director, KASS)

(Mr J Holden, Senior Accounting and Budget Manager, was in attendance for this item)

(1)       Mr Leidecker introduced the report and explained that pressure continued in the fields of increasing Domiciliary Care costs and services for people with learning disabilities.  He highlighted the successful negotiation with Eastern and Coastal   PCT  to support  intermediate care and early  hospital discharge f or older  people. In response to questions raised by Members, Mr Leidecker and Mr Holden explained the following:-

(a)       Members welcomed the level of detail set out in the report.  The format of the Budget monitoring had followed previously-established methods used by Cabinet, etc, but could change in the future;

(b)       Members suggested that the use of unit costs and reference costs would give a better picture of trends and allow the comparison of costs between those in and not in nursing care, and with other local authorities around the UK;

(c)        Changing patterns of care would inevitably show up in different patterns of expenditure. For example, increased emphasis on intermediate care and care in the clients’ own homes would reduce the spend on residential care as fewer clients were taking it up.

(2)       RESOLVED that the information set out in the report, and given in response to questions from Members, be noted, with thanks.