Why consult now?

Through its Comprehensive Spending Review the Government has reduced funding for local Councils by some 28% over the next four years

A funding shortfall for Norfolk County Council of at least £155m

over the next three years because;• 55% of the Council’s income comes from

Government • Service demand is increasing e.g. higher than

average rises in older population and people with dementia

• Inflation costs, particularly on fuel and energy• The Council has committed to freeze its share

of Council Tax for two out of the next three years

The Council’s intention is to protect the frontline as much as

possible

It proposes that this level of savings can only be achieved through radical changes in what it does and the way it does it.

The consultation

1. The future ambitions and role of the County Council

2. The Council’s proposed approach for delivering the savings over the next three years

3. A series of savings proposals to help balance the budget and deliver the savings needed over the next three years

1. The Council’s proposes to continue with its current ambitions

for Norfolk

• An inspirational place with a clear sense of identity

• A vibrant, strong and sustainable economy• Aspirational people with high levels of

achievement

It proposes that in future its role should be focused on

• Speaking up for Norfolk• Assessing people’s needs and

commissioning effective services for them• Supporting, developing and maintaining

the infrastructure • Being a safety net for the most vulnerable• Helping others to build strong communities

2. The Council proposes a four-step approach for managing the

shortfall

1. Efficiencies

2. Redesigning services

3. Doing less and communities and new social enterprises doing more

4. Scaling back on services and priorities

The themes for Community Services in the future

• To continue to progress personalisation • To continue integration with health services• To focus the department more locally• Ceasing to provide services directly, retaining

the assessment and care management function

• To deliver this within the budget

Efficiencies in Community Services

• Reduced management costs, with managers having a greater span of responsibility

• Reduced administrative support to managers, staff and meetings

• Better processes – from business support processes, to the way we allocate social work and monitor services

• Less offices and reduced building costs• Limiting inflationary “uplift” for independent

and third sector providers - who will need to make efficiency savings to manage costs

Redesigning services in Community Services

• Redesigning the assessment service, with a shift towards more self-service options

• Redesigning the way we support people being discharged from hospital

• Work with the NHS to make sure people entitled to free personal care receive it

• More choice through personal budgets – with less demand for traditional services and more community-based opportunities

• Reviewing and prioritising Prevention services

Smaller Council, bigger community – Community Services

• Stop running day centres in-house – moving to Personal Budgets allowing people to choose what day opportunities they need

• Stop directly providing transport• Reducing some advocacy and advice work in

Learning Difficulties services• Reduction in the budget for mental health

services – and continuing to change living arrangements, with those in residential care moving into the community

Scaling back – in Community Services

• Changing the eligibility threshold to “critical” • Stop free equipment for all users – linking it to

eligibility as with other services• Stopping the subsidy for Community Meals• Stop the work of the current Sensory Support

Team – meeting only statutory requirements• End the HIV/AIDS service

Exceptional circumstances – tight time scale

• The Council needs responses by 10 January so Councillors can consider them properly before deciding the budget. – The Government’s Comprehensive Spending

Review - Oct 20– Full effect for Norfolk County Council - Dec 2010– Members discussion - January 2011– Cabinet recommendations 24 January– County Council’s 2011/12 budget set – 14 Feb

2011.

Over to you

Getting involved

Go onlinewww.norfolk.gov.uk/big conversation

– Downloadable debate pack– Add comments and see others

Ring: 0344 800 8020Write: Freepost Your NorfolkRead and respond:’Your Norfolk’, DecemberContact your County Councillor – details on

www.norfolk.gov.uk

Thanks for listening