Last week marked one of those pivotal points when, through conversations among leaders and a key announcement on adult social care, we really began to see the way ahead for Essex’s new councils.
As we move toward the point where various business cases are finalised, presented to councils and are submitted to the government at the end of September, we really began to see the progress we’ve made crystalise. At the county council, there is a now a preference for the way ahead, but we will continue to keep an open mind regarding other options.
Adult social care – which I have referenced before in these blogs – is a key issue and concern for many of the councils involved in these conversations. It is the service we spend more on than any other. And because of our aging population, those costs will further increase alongside demand, especially in the north-east of Essex.
It was timely to hear at the end of June that Essex County Council’s Adult Social Care services have been rated ‘Good’ by inspectors the CQC. It is a tremendous tribute to the care professionals who give so much every day to care for and keep older and often vulnerable people, along with people with disabilities, mental health care needs or who are recovering from illness or returning from hospital stays safe and well. We’ll be reviewing the areas where we can still improve, but this nevertheless is a ringing endorsement of the care services we provide.
As we move to new council structures, adult social care is one of the key service areas we need to consider. Demand means we spend more taxpayer’s money on care than anything else we are responsible for.
There is a simple equation here – the more councils we have in Essex, the more council services will cost (not least in the early days after the new arrangements are introduced).
More councils would mean less money for the excellent care services currently provided.
This is one of the key reasons behind the position which the County Council has arrived at – namely, that three councils strikes the right balance between maintaining excellent services like those currently provided for adults and children, and keeping the costs for us and for you – it is your money councils spend, and we would rather you keep as much of it as possible.
We are excited about the development of the business case for Essex which will contain our plans, now well underway, not least in terms of how we ensure that you and residents and businesses are front and centre of influencing how the new councils will work in your parish or village or town or city.
In an ideal world, we might be able to consider higher numbers of new unitary councils, as some councils in Essex are. But we have to live within our means and within constrained funding for public services. After careful consideration of the evidence and the costs, it is clear that going for five unitaries would mean less money for services, or rises in council taxes. There would be a real risk that five new councils would struggle from Day One. They simply won’t have the financial resilience and the ability to absorb ‘shocks’ to the system like spikes in inflation or energy price increases.
Three councils is also simpler for residents, business and partners – at the moment, there are three councils dealing with the big statutory areas of care and education in Greater Essex. Our plan would not increase this number. It would also be faster (because it would be simpler) to move to three councils rather than five.
We are currently conducting research among residents and partners, to find out exactly where residents priorities lie, in an unbiassed and objective exercise with the results shared across all 15 councils. A great example of the way all councils are working together, and this will continue, regardless of the differences of opinion on the way ahead, which clearly will be there.
I am looking forward to sharing more about the development of these exciting plans soon.
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