Graham Hodkinson, Director of Care and Health introduced the report which set out the financial monitoring information for the Adult Social Care and Health Committee and provided an overview of budget performance for the area of activity for quarter 3 of the 2020/21 financial year.

It was reported that as at the end of December 2020, the forecast year-end position for Adult Care and Health was an adverse variance of £0.036m against a net budget of £106.627m. The Director of Care and Health outlined the key challenges in budget monitoring in that period, which included steadily increasing client numbers, particularly in Domiciliary care, alongside increasing average cost of care packages. However, access to the Government’s additional Covid-19 funding helped to offset the significant amount of additional costs the Council faced.

Members queried when the Committee would see the savings proposals from Wirral Evolutions, and it was confirmed that the proposals were in development and would be reported back to the Committee as soon as possible as part of the consultation process. Members further reinforced the need for the Budget Monitoring Panel to be introduced and align with the committee schedule.

Resolved – That the projected year-end revenue forecast position of £0.036m adverse and the performance of the capital programme, as reported at quarter 3 (Apr-Dec) of 2020/21 be noted.