Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Head of Adults’ Services.

It was resolved –

·        That whilst the Council acknowledges the costs incurred within residential care, the actual cost of delivery is not reflected in the charge to residents.

·        That the increase for those contributing towards the cost of care is consistent with the guidance for council services and set at 3%, and that a fee of £601.82 is set.

The report of the Head of Adults’ Services seeking the Executive’s approval to set the level of the Authority’s Standard Charge for local authority care homes for the year April, 2018 to March, 2019 was presented for consideration.

The Chair and Portfolio Member for Social Services reported that although a general guideline of a 3% increase for fees and charges has been set, the charge in relation to local authority owned residential accommodation can be treated as an exception as it is governed by a statutory provision which sets out how it should be calculated. The report sets out the estimated cost per resident per week for the year to 31 March, 2019 which comes to £703.03. Although this is higher than the estimated cost for the year to 31 March, 2018 as a result of increased salary costs and inflation, it is not as high as expected due to the increase in the occupancy rate for the homes (from 89.7% to 93.4%) which leads to a lower unit cost. However, mindful of the Council’s decision in 2017/18 and acknowledging the significant rise that a move from the 2017/18 standard charge of £584.29 to £703.03 would entail, it is recommended that as in 2017/18, the charge to residents should not reflect the actual cost of provision. By not charging self-funding residents the full cost of placement within these homes, the Council is subsidising each user by an estimated £101.21 a week or £5,262.92 per year. Over the current 29 self- funders, this equates to an estimated £152,625 a year.

It was resolved –

•  That whilst the Council acknowledges the costs incurred within residential care, the actual cost of delivery is not reflected in the charge to residents.

•  That the increase for those contributing towards the cost of care is   consistent with the guidance for council services and set at 3%, and that a  fee of £601.82 is set.