Frank’s Law funding axed as deficit bites
executive John Burns has expressed concern about the impact of the cut. And the budget for learning disability packages was reduced by £ 54,000. The financial chaos has stemmed from the HSCP racking up £ 3.27 million debt last year. A large number of cuts have already taken place.
South Ayrshire Council had to wade in with a loan to cover a shortfall. The IJB asked the council could it defer making the first repayment this year but the majority of councillors refused to discuss the matter. That triggered a rush to find last minute £ 819,000 cuts, which included Frank’s Law. Councillor Hugh Hunter said: “We were forced into this by the South Ayrshire Council administration refusing to consider the request for re- profiling.”
IJB chair Councillor Brian McGinley said: “I do understand that the IJB cannot keep asking the council to bail them out as both partners have their own resource restrictions to manage.
“I have taken over recently as the Chair of the Board and am determined to bring about positive results.
“The main difficulty is that the IJBs are being asked to transform ways of working without any substantial change to management resources which, together with phenomenal demand, is leading to budget overspends.
“This means that change has to be delivered within existing resources at a time when resources are limited and demand is going through the roof.
“This is a very tall order and we will need active and continuous support from the council and the health board to make this happen.”
The £ 224 million health and social care service was breaching financial rules because it had no approved budget before Friday.
Balanced books were supposed to be signed off by April 1.
Council officials warned money was being spent in contravention of financial regulations.
Councillor Hunter branded it “shameful” and said staff had to deliver services with no idea what their budget was.
These are unpleasant and unpalatable decisions but we need to produce a balanced budget