Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Tony Zaman and Steve Hajioff.

None.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2017 be approved as a correct record.

It was confirmed that there were no Part II items, and that all business would therefore be conducted in public.

Peter Malewicz, Finance Manager, introduced a report detailing budget proposals for services within the remit of the Social Services, Housing and Public Health Policy Overview Committee.

The Committee was advised that the draft revenue budget and Capital Programme was first considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 14 December 2017. The proposals were since under consultation before further consideration inclusive of comments from each POC, by Cabinet at its meeting on 15 February 2018. Cabinet would then make recommendations to full Council, who would meet to agree the budgets and Council Tax for 2018/19 on 22 February 2018.

The Council continued to operate within the Government's deficit reduction programme, with reductions in central government funding due to continue until at least the end of the decade. The Council was required to find savings of approximately £10m over the next year, and total savings in excess of £56m over the next five years. A growing population, both of younger and older residents, made finding these savings a challenge.

Service areas

Impact of Welfare Reform on Homelessness

The existing level of provision had been retained, with a forecast that the number of families within Temporary Accommodation could rise by more than 3% during 2018/19. However, preventative measures were expected to be sufficient to contain the cost of Homelessness above base budgets, and work was underway to cost the financial impact of the Homelessness Reduction Act and Universal Credit reforms announced in the Autumn Budget.

Members referred to figures included in recent Cabinet papers, which confirmed that the Council had approximately 200 households within B&B accommodation. The Budget report forecast a 3% uplift of families within temporary accommodation, but the provision was unchanged from the prior year. Would this provision be sufficient?

Officers confirmed that, as of the prior day, the Council now had 160 households in B&B's, which amounted to a 40% reduction since April 2017. The Council was seeking to avoid placements, and teams were now focussing on early intervention, which included finding alternate accommodation and negotiating with landlords for lower rent levels. There was capacity in the system to reduce projected spend, though the forthcoming introduction of Universal Credit, and the Council's obligations as a result of the Homelessness Reduction Act, would have an impact.

Members requested that an update on Homelessness and the relevant reforms be brought to a future meeting of the Committee.

SEN Transport

Demographic growth was expected to continue, with an uplift of approximately 5% in eligible student numbers. A major review of transport for SEN children was underway, (including route and vehicle optimisations, group pickups etc), with the aim of absorbing demographic growth within existing routes and services.

Members sought further clarity on the review of SEN Transport. Officers confirmed that as a result of the review, the number of vehicles had broadly reduced. Many children were now travelling to and from school in the most appropriate vehicle, and for some schools, the service had introduced a number of group pickups, all of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

RESOLVED:  That the Cabinet Forward Plan be noted.

Members noted that suggestions for information items, including the Council's Support to Hillingdon Armed Forces Community Covenant, and the Work of the Pembroke Centre and Hillingdon Mental Health, had been added to the programme for presentation at future Committee meetings.

RESOLVED:  That the Work Programme 2017/18 be noted.