Annual Delivery Report 2020 Published December 2020 CONTENTS Page Introduction……………………………………………………………………………... 1 Financial Context, Challenges and Fair Funding Campaign ………………… 3 A Strong Economy…………………………………………………………………….. 5 Impact of Covid-19 Infrastructure for Sustainable Growth Highly Skilled and Employable Workforce Supporting Business to Flourish Transport…………………………………………………………………………………. 13 Major Road Schemes Supporting Growth Traffic Management and Safety Sustainable Travel Highways Maintenance and Management Affordable and Quality Homes………………………………………………………. 23 Housing to Support Independence Health, Wellbeing and Opportunity…………………………………………………. 28 Health and Care Integration Adult Social Care & Covid-19 Response Public Health Children Get the Best Start in Life Mental Health Sport and Physical Activity Keeping People Safe………………………………………………………………….. 45 Safeguarding Keeping Children Safe and Cared For Support for Vulnerable Children Supporting Families and Early Help School Support and Place Planning Safer Communities Consumer Protection Great Communities……………………………………………………………………. 57 Great Communities Libraries, Heritage and Culture Environment and Waste Corporate Enablers……………………………………………………………………. 73 Covid-19 - Corporate Response Transformation Programme Commercial and Traded Services Strategic Property and Workplace Digital and IT People Strategy and Staff Wellbeing Financial Planning and Strategy Overview and Scrutiny Separate Annual Performance Compendium with performance data Introduction In December 2017 the County Council agreed a four-year Strategic Plan and Outcomes Framework to 2022. The Plan focused on the things that make life better for people in Leicestershire. We also developed a shared vision across the Council of what we want people to experience in their daily lives. Whilst the outcomes are, in places, aspirational they outline the sort of end results we want to see for the people of Leicestershire. In October 2019 we reported on responses to a major consultation on priorities for the county. 4,300 people took part in a survey which highlighted that support for vulnerable people, such as residential and community support for older people and mental health, plus special educational needs and disabilities, child protection and children in care were in the top 10 priority services. The survey also showed 86% supported protecting the environment by using renewable energy and reducing carbon. The survey was the biggest exercise we’ve run since 2013 In July 2020 the Council agreed an updated Strategic Plan to 2022 to further enhance our commitment to vulnerable people and supporting the environment and minimising climate change. Whilst supporting the most vulnerable remains our top priority, the Council’s Strategic Plan sets out 5 revised high-level priorities – Key Priorities A Strong Economy - Leicestershire’s economic prosperity benefits everyone and supports resilient, clean growth; Wellbeing and Opportunity – that the people of Leicestershire live in a healthy environment and have the opportunities and support they need to take control of their health and wellbeing; Keeping People Safe – that people in Leicestershire are safe and protected from harm; Great Communities – that Leicestershire communities are thriving and integrated places where people help and support each other and take pride in their local area; and Affordable and Quality Homes - Leicestershire has a choice of quality, sustainable homes that people can afford 1 The Council is here to make a positive difference to the lives of Leicestershire people. We want Leicestershire’s economic prosperity to support clean growth that creates the best life chances for all. That Leicestershire is a place where people are well and safe, living in a healthy environment as part of great communities where people enjoy life and work together to enhance their local area. That there is a good supply of quality, sustainable homes that provide maximum independence and are affordable to own and run. We aim to be a carbon neutral organisation by 2030, use natural resources wisely and contribute to the recovery of nature. We are a green council and as a key place leader we will work with our partners to deliver our ambitious environmental goals. The global coronavirus pandemic which took off in early 2020 has further highlighted the vital role that we play in keeping people safe, particularly vulnerable people, supporting public health and wellbeing and working closely with communities and partner agencies to support communities. The aftermath of the initial coronavirus wave has also underlined the importance of our efforts to help business and rebuild a strong and sustainable economy. The last year has provided the biggest challenge of a lifetime and the challenge continues. The Council has supported the efforts in many ways, many set out in this report, including ensuring that thousands of volunteers and communities needing help were brought together, distributing a £1.6m communities fund to help sustain local community groups, supporting 25,000 people on the Government’s shielded list, providing daily support to care homes, keeping vulnerable children safe, advising and supporting schools staff and working to ensure that vulnerable people didn’t fall victim to scams and substandard goods. Indeed, in July 2020, the Communities Secretary praised the “absolutely heroic job” done by councils during the crisis, saying they had played a central role in recent months. In September the Prime Minister also paid tribute ‘to everybody in local authorities who have been the unsung heroes of our fight against the pandemic’. This Annual Delivery Report summarises the work that the Council has undertaken over the last 12 months to both progress its priorities, but also, in the second half of the year, to significantly reorient itself to manage this once in a generation public health and economic crisis. A separate and related Performance Compendium sets out current comparative performance data using a wide range of performance measures. The compendium also includes information on the Council’s low funding position and critical impact that the virus has had on finances, the service pressures and risks now faced and the campaign for Fairer Funding. Soaring demand for services plus uncertainty over the national economy and funding means that the Council is needing to look at all options to respond. 2 Financial Context, Challenges and Fair Funding Campaign Delivering on priority outcomes and ambitions for Leicestershire continues to be hampered by low funding levels, and the coronavirus pandemic has added significantly to the service and financial challenges faced. The Performance Compendium sets out our comparative low funding position and how this translates into low funding for local services. The Council now faces a critical financial scenario. Over the medium term the combination of an ageing and growing population and reduced income means there is a need to continue to save money. The Council has already saved £210m since 2010 with a further £80m to save by 2023/24. The OECD estimates that the global economy will contract by 6% this year. The UK economy is expected to be hard hit with a forecast contraction of 11.5%. The impact on the wider economy and council income and expenditure has added to the seriousness of the council’s financial position and threatens the continued provision of services and delivery of outcomes. Over the last year the coronavirus pandemic has further escalated the crisis in local government finance with many authorities warning of significant job losses, further major budget reductions and formal notices of the inability to balance budgets. The financial situation facing the Council is challenging on all fronts. Covid-19 Impact - our previous four-year financial plan set out the need for £80m savings. £24m of detailed savings have been set out and a plan to reduce SEND costs by £17m. However, the financial impact of the pandemic will now be profound. In September we reported that the pandemic would significantly push up the Council’s budget gap from £39m to £50m by 2024. Extra costs and loss of income have increased costs by £90m in 2020/21 alone – which after Government grants and guidance reducing the need for extra bus services, leaves an £18m gap this year. Key covid-19 costs include in supporting vulnerable people through increasing care fees to providers, higher costs of keeping services going such as IT and construction and lost commercial income, council tax and business rates. To meet the changed financial environment the Council has also had to reduce resources available to its capital programme by £115m. The financial position faced by the County Council is extremely serious and challenging. This is a particularly difficult situation for a low-funded authority such as Leicestershire as room for further savings is limited. The financial difficulties experienced pre-Covid, relating to demand for services, have not gone away and the mitigations have been disrupted by the crisis. Additional financial pressures are expected to continue after the current financial year due to reduced council tax and business rates income, a continuation of costs to maintain infection control and the economic impact upon suppliers who may request further support, for example bus operators. Based on current information, it is very unlikely that the County Council, when it rolls forward the MTFS into 2024/25, will be able to identify sufficient savings