Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing is attached.

Councillor Tamoor Tariq was welcomed back to Cabinet, and thanks were extended to Councillor Nathan Boroda for stepping up to the Cabinet Member role for the previous months.

Councillor Tamoor Tariq, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Care, presented the report which detailed the fee engagement process including timelines and proposed recommendations for the fee proposal to contracted providers of adult social care services for the period 2024/25. It was noted that for each provider sector the Council was proposing uplifting the staffing element of the fee by 10% in line with the increase in the Real Living Wage and National Living Wage, and proposals had been developed alongside provider partners.

Decision:

Cabinet agreed the fee uplifts as set out in the report.

Reasons for the decision:

The Council is required to carry out a provider fee engagement process and has done so for year 24/25. The uplifts are within budget and look to drive the provider market to meet needs now and going forward, while ensuring provider sustainability in light of current pressures. The recommended fee rates also support providers to pay their staff the Real Living Wage and continue the move towards the Fair Cost of Care.

Other options considered and rejected:

Alternatives were not considered as we are required to issue fee uplifts within allocated budget.