Agenda item

Revised Draft Revenue Budget 2024-25 and 2024-27 MTFP, Draft Capital Programme 2024-34 and Treasury Management Strategy

Minutes:

  1. Mr Oakford introduced the revised draft budget and provided a high-level overview. It was noted that since the previous meeting, the draft budget had been balanced. Mr Oakford then provided an overview of the key measures taken to produce the draft budget and the financial risks going forward.    

 

  1. In response to comments and questions from Members, it was said

 

  1. A Member raised a concern about the scale of the public health challenges that would face Kent and the Council in the years ahead. It was said that the budget did not respond adequately to the level of need and that the standard of services was declining. Mr Oakford noted that demand growth in social care was exceeding the funds available and that the Council will continue to operate in difficult conditions until that is resolved. It was said that lobbying for additional funding from the central government was ongoing. Mr Watkins noted that much of the Public Health budget was ringfenced and that the consequence of global events would mean that additional funding would be difficult in the years ahead so the focus would be on transformation projects and integrated care to improve the efficiency of spending while meeting growing health and care needs. 

 

  1. Mr Oakford said that there was no plan to cut spending on libraries.

 

  1. A Member said that negative health outcomes were increasing which would lead to an increase in the number of people with health needs, placing pressure on Council resources. 

 

  1. Numerous Members noted how challenging local, national and global events and challenges had been on Council finances and resources. 

 

  1. A Member said that in the past it had been difficult to work effectively with NHS colleagues but the work on the Integrated Care Strategy the preventative agenda was promising.  

 

  1. A Member said that costing on the level of demand was needed to understand the gap between the capacity of the £4 billion health system in Kent compared with the scale of demand. Mr Watkins noted that the data being requested would be held at the Integrated Care Board (ICB) or Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) levels. It was said that the directorate would decide where to prioritise spending to best meet the needs of Kent residents and an evidenced-based strategy was in place. 

 

  1. Members raised a concern about the impact of children’s services and youth centres, which provided support on cooking skills, sexual health and other life skills and the effect the loss of these places would have on health outcomes. Mr Watkins said that a big investment had been made in the Start-for-Life Programme which would be important for families and young people. Dr Schwartz said that the Family Hubs was an opportunity to bring many of these services together that would provide holistic support for young people and families. 

 

  1. Members noted that mental health provision and support for young mothers were lacking and difficult to access. Mr Watkins noted that there was a gap between clinical health and mental health provisions and improving this was a work in progress. Dr Schwartz said that the Start-for-Life programme would support young mothers with breast feeding, infant feeding and perinatal mental health. 

 

  1. RESOLVED that the Health Reform and Public Health Cabinet Committee noted the updated revenue budget and MTFP, draft capital strategy and programme, and draft Treasury Management Strategy. 

 

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