Issue - meetings

Cabinet received a report which was submitted following a consultation on proposals for Adult Social Care charging; a referral from the Scrutiny Commission for Health Issues and a referral from the Corporate Management Team meeting held on 11 November 2015.

The purpose of the report was to provide information for consideration on a number of proposed changes to the Council’s Adult Social Care Charging Policy; for Cabinet to receive responses and comments from the public consultation; to receive responses, comments and recommendations from the Scrutiny Commission for Health Issues and to seek Cabinet’s approval of the recommended changes to the charging policy and for the method of implementation of these changes.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Integrated Adult Social Care and Health introduced the report highlighting the main issues contained within. In response to concerns raised with regards the proposed increase in charges, he confirmed that the proposals would not affect those individuals who could not afford to pay.

The Council’s Financial Systems Manager added further points of clarification and drew Cabinet’s attention to an addendum document which had been circulated prior to the meeting which detailed recommendations from the Scrutiny Commission for Health Issues, these being:

i.     That option one in respect of the charging policy proposals, ‘Agree to the changes and apply these from the earliest available opportunity as part of the routine financial assessment process,’ is the preferred approach; and

ii.    That income generated from the Adult Social Care Charging Policy be ring-fenced for re-investment in adult social care services.

Cabinet debated the report and in summary, key points raised and responses to questions included:

·         Assurance could be given that each resident would only pay what they could afford as the personal financial and care need circumstances of each individual who received care services, and received a financial assessment, were taken into consideration; 

·         The process of assessment was outlined and it was confirmed that each one was carried out on an individual basis, with no mass assessments undertaken;

·         Care charges represented about 16% of the total adult social care budget and in respect of financial implications to the Council, it was advised that in the year 2016/17 additional charges could generate an estimated additional £260k;

·         If agreed by Cabinet, the changes would become part of the Council’s policy and would be a permanent change to the way the Council calculated how much individuals would have to pay towards their care. The Policy reflected current guidance and should there be any future changes to this guidance, the Policy would be reviewed accordingly; and

·         The report highlighted comparator and benchmarking information which detailed how other Councils were approaching the issue. The majority of Council’s were facing the same challenges as Peterborough and the opportunity for charging had been taken up in order to maximise revenue.

Cabinet considered the report and NOTED:

1. The proposed changes to the Adult Social Care charging policy and the recommended option, this being option 4.7(a), as set out in the Cabinet  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5