Adult Social Care Pooled Budget for Older People Overspent (South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats)

South East Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats <info@secambslibdems.org.uk>

Adult Social Care Pooled Budget for Older People Overspent

November 4, 2009 5:30 PM

Cllr Fiona Whelan, Liberal Democrat Adult Social Care Spokes said, after attending the meeting on Monday, "There remains considerable anxiety at the ability of the Conservative Administration to manage this budget properly. A shortfall was first identified three months ago. There are still no precise details as to where overspending has occurred, nor what the total overspend will be. What has been done in the last three months? The administration has produced a crisis 'action plan'. This proposes simple, good management practises. These are necessary, but it is incredible that a department with a £100 million budget does not already have these in place. The council must remain in budget over the year, so the overspend has to be dealt with in the remaining five months of this financial year. This means the axe falling on other services.

I am stunned at the ready acceptance of the Administration that this budget black hole appears every year. Either the budget is incorrectly set each year, or we need to change the way it is audited and accounted for! I am sending the first warning shot across the bows that I intend to get to the bottom of it. With biting cuts forecast for all departments at the County Council next year this is simply unacceptable practice."

Cllr Geoff Hitchcock, Health Spokesman said 'It is clear to everyone except for Senior Members of the Administration that if a tanker is clearly heading for the rocks so early in its voyage you are not going to alter the ultimate destination when the remaining parts of the voyage are so short. It beggars belief that so little can be given by way of evidence to re-assure us and the wider Public that they are really in control on the Bridge of this vital Budget'