Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of Democratic Services that presents the proposed budget for 2024/25 and the provisional budgets for 2025/26

and 2026/27 for consideration, review and comment in terms of matters and proposals that fall within the Scrutiny Board’s remit.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that introduced the Executive Board’s initial budget proposals for 2024/25 for consideration, review and comment on matters and proposals that fall within the Scrutiny Board’s remit.

The following were in attendance:

·  Councillor Fiona Venner, Executive Member for Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships

·  Councillor Salma Arif, Executive Member for Adults Social Care, Public Health and Active Lifestyles

·  Caroline Baria, Interim Director of Adults and Health

·  Victoria Eaton, Director of Public Health

·  Tim Fielding, Deputy Director of Public Health

·  Shona McFarlane, Deputy Director Social Work and Social Care Service

·  John Crowther, Chief Officer Resources & Strategy, Adults and Health

·  Jane Walne, Chief Officer Operations and Active Leeds

·  Steve Baker, Head of Active Leeds

The Chair highlighted that while the Board has already been initially consulted on the relevant budget proposals as part of a working group meeting held during December 2023, Members were given a further opportunity as part of this meeting to raise any further questions or make any further comments on the proposals.

The following areas were raised during the Board’s discussion:

Ø  Proposed car parking charges in parks - while acknowledging that proposals to introduce car parking charges in parks is outside of the remit of the Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board, some related comments were made linked to promoting active lifestyles.  The Chair therefore advised that these would be shared with the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board as part of its deliberations on the matter.  In summary, the related comments were as follows:

·  Although it is widely recognised that being physically active is essential for good physical and mental health and wellbeing, the latest performance data shows that 40.7% of adults in the most deprived areas of the city are physically inactive.

·  Having good levels of accessibility to green spaces, including all city and community parks, forms part of the ongoing efforts to encourage and support people to lead more active lifestyles and therefore it is important that this also forms part of the considerations in terms of any potential impacts.

·  Car parking payment methods in general should be non-discriminatory and offer a range of options, including a cash option.

·  Creating opportunities and empowering more people to choose active ways of travelling also remains a key priority and linked to this a suggestion was made around exploring opportunities for developing and providing route maps for walking, wheeling and cycling to local green spaces and parks.

Ø  Fees and charges: Members reiterated the points also made during the Board’s budget working group meeting surrounding the proposal to review the charges applied to adult social care activities. Assurances were again sought that people would not be charged more than it is reasonably practicable for them to pay based on their individual financial assessment. Importance was also placed on ensuring that individuals are safe in making any decision to no longer receive a service in terms of this being based on need rather than being financially driven.

Ø  Promoting and supporting active lifestyles: Members acknowledged and praised the proactive approach of Active Leeds and partners in exploring external funding sources, particularly for key areas of need, and further encouraged this approach. The Chair also reminded Members that supporting healthy weight and active lifestyles will be a key feature of the Board’s March meeting too.

The Chair concluded by explaining that the Board’s deliberations on the relevant budget saving proposals will inform a composite report from Scrutiny that will be submitted to the Executive Board for consideration during its meeting on 7th February 2024.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted and the Board’s deliberations on the relevant budget savings proposals inform a composite report from Scrutiny that will be submitted to the Executive Board for consideration during its meeting on 7th February 2024.