Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report which provided an update on the key aspects of the use of the funding available for respite services for carers in the Borough.

It was reported that the Adult Social Care Carers budget for 2022/23 was £428,070, which represented a 9% increase from the 2019/20 budget.

The Board was advised that the budget was available to spend on direct respite provision of services for carers of people who were in receipt of adult social care services as part of a carers assessment; carers who applied to Halton Carers Centre for finance to support their caring role; and as small grants to voluntary and independent sector organisations who applied.

The spend of the budget varied year on year; the report provided details of the allocated budgets and spend for the past 4 years.  It was noted that the decrease in spend in 2020/21 and 2021/22 was due to the pandemic. 

Further to Members questions, it was confirmed that the budget variance at the end of each year was not rolled over to the next and was not protected, as it formed part of a single budget within the Directorate.  Further, use of the carers respite budget was purely demand led and there was no deliberate policy on the Council’s part to underspend this.  Also, the carers allocated respite budget had increased year on year, as presented in the report.

It was commented that the Halton Carers Centre was located in Runcorn but did have an outreach facility in Widnes, at St Marie’s Church on Lugsdale Road.

RESOLVED:  That the report is noted.