SPENDING in some areas of social care across Argyll and Bute is continuing to cause concern - despite an overall underspend in the budget for delivering vital services.

The area’s health and social care partnership (HSCP) reported an underspend of £2.6 million for the 2023/24 financial year.

But one Helensburgh councillor highlighted that three key areas of social care had accrued an overspend of £1m.

The discussion took place at a meeting of the HSCP’s integration joint board (IJB) at its meeting on Wednesday, May 29.

Councillor Gary Mulvaney (Conservative, Helensburgh Central) said: “It is a welcome place to be that we ended up with an underspend, but in some cases, without being the doom and gloom accountant, it was facilitated by a fair chunk of reserves to get to that position.

“The three things that still remain, when you look at the most significant areas, are residential care, placement home care and NHS prescribing.

“That was about £1million overspent and we need to get a grip on those. As long as I have been on the IJB, it has always been those three.

“I would be interested to hear your thoughts around the adult care in terms of placements in home care.

“Having a look around this area, clearly it is demand-led, but there must be other areas where we can manage to get help around it.”

James Gow, the HSCP’s head of finance and transformation, responded: “The 2023/24 financial year was one where we saw a bit of a spike in spend, particularly on residential care, which dropped off a bit during Covid years.

“We are experiencing a demographic shift and a greater degree of take-up in residential care. We have looked at that during the year and made some allowance for that in the budget we have started.

“We are keen to see how the first quarter figures look, because obviously it is a big concern for us.

“The efficiency of the care at home service is something we are putting a bit of work into because we are working on a new contract.

“It is a complicated set of circumstances for us. We hope we have the budget right for next year, but that is predicated on getting the new care at home contract.”

Mr Gow also confirmed, upon further questioning from Councillor Mulvaney, that it is hoped to have the new contract in place by the end of September.