The Executive Lead for Adult Social Care and Older People introduced the item to the meeting, highlighting the pressures and challenges faced with setting the budget proposals for this service. The Board heard how the service focuses on early intervention which works to reduce the risk of eviction, homelessness, promotes access to benefits whilst looking to reduce substance and alcohol misuse through preventative measures. The Board heard how the service is a commissioner of these services for the local areas.

In response to questioning the Board heard how savings required from 1^st April 2012 would involve smarter contract management and procurement and that these proposals in detail, along with others were outlined within the report originally issued in December.

The Board heard the risks of not being able to implement the savings as required from 1^st April 2012.  The contingencies in place centred on many contracts expiring in the coming year with others having flexibility with regards to their end dates. In response to questioning the Board heard the service is not generally an income generation led service so the targets for income generation do not apply.

In response to questioning no development items or cost pressures needed to be highlighted to the Overview and Scrutiny Board. However, work needs to continue on re-ablement and reducing levels accessing accommodation led services as this could cause a greater cost pressure.

In response to questioning the Board were advised of the implementation costs as outlined within the budget report documentation, circulated in December. The Board also heard of plans to implement more join working with partners such as Devon.

In response to questioning the Board heard how £268,000 on domestic abuse refuge but the Board were asked to look at this in the context of other work across the authority on reducing domestic violence such as the work by IDVCA and Family Intervention Project. In response to questioning the Board heard how around £1 million is currently spent on drugs, alcohol and substance misuse. 

In response to questioning the Board heard how the service has not experienced a decrease in service users and that the current client base consists of nearly 2000 individuals and in terms of the cuts made across the Authority the service had made around £500,000 worth of budget proposal savings.

The Board questioned details behind the PLUSS contract, following recent press around the closure of local premises. The Board were advised that this contract area had only recently moved over to supporting people function but that work was taking place with the current provider (PLUSS) to re-procure this.

The board requested further information from Supporting People regarding the breakdown of their budget and further information relating to the outcomes of PLUSS Service Users.