To advise Cabinet of the conclusions arising from the review undertaken into the causes of the increase in overspend of the Social Care Budget and the implications for 2005/06 and beyond.

That

(a)               Cabinet supports the actions taken to manage the over-commitment in the Social Care budget and the approach to be taken with regard to the overspend for 2004/05;

(b)               Officers be supported in making the difficult decisions required on the needs of individual service users as a result of this approach;

(c)               The budget continues to be monitored on a monthly basis until the new Senior Management structure is in place, and that remedial action be taken before then if the situation deteriorates; and

(d)               The position for the write-off of the overspend be reviewed in the context of the above.

An understanding of the reasons for the movement in projected overspend is critical to ensure that effective financial management procedures are in place and any implications in terms of the 2005/06 Budget are identified.

N/A