The full impact of the Arctic blast may yet be felt on Angus Council’s social work budget.
Ahead of the most challenging financial period in the authority’s history, the department had been on course for a near £200,000 underspend 0.28% of its total budget.
But with the full cost of the big freeze yet to emerge in areas such as staff wages, officials say the budgetary picture may yet change in the final stages of the financial year.
Social work director Dr Robert Peat will present a budget outturn update to councillors on Thursday, revealing figures which forecast a £181,000 underspend on the annual £63.642 million budget.
Despite overspends in the areas of older people’s services and those with learning disabilities amounting to almost £800,000, the council has come in under estimate in its children’s provision and support services to the tune of £750,000.
Dr Peat will tell elected members that a redesign of the fostering scheme is responsible for a significant chunk of the children’s services savings.
The report states, “The proposal was to invest in an improved foster service in order to avoid increased reliance on placements provided by independent fostering agencies where there was an additional financial burden.
“We are now seeing the financial impact of this investment on the expenditure, particularly in relation to residential care which has a projected underspend of £276,000.”
It adds, “There is also a projected underspend in relation to support for childminding of £34,000.”Increase in demandAmong the area of significant overspend, Dr Peat reports that demand for nursing care and respite care by an ageing population is outstripping the budget.
He states, “Much of the work of the best value review was derived on demographic information based on the 2006 mid-year population figures which identified a 4% per annum increase demand for social work services.
“Within Angus, the population has increased in the over-85-year-olds in excess of the anticipated figures. This has led to increased demand for residential and nursing care.”
He adds, “Work is ongoing to review our current processes to ensure that this is as tightly controlled as possible.
“There has been a significant increase in demand for services for people with learning disabilities which has been highlighted in a number of growth bids over the past few years.
“As a result of this and in response to the issues raised, a programme of redesign has been implemented.”
The report indicates the projected underspend of £181,000 based on figures to the end of November, but Dr Peat said the Arctic blast may affect that tally.
He states, “The projected underspend does not account for any changes in demand-led services or the effect of the severe winter, e.g. staff being unable to get to work may mean unaffected staff would have to work more and be paid for additional hours.
“This will continue to be monitored carefully and corrective action taken where necessary.”