Social Value Ideas for Midlothian Council

Adult social care overspend support

Council agreed to provide supplementary funding to Midlothian Integration Joint Board to cover an adverse variance in adult social care services. This is a significant spending decision linked to cont…

“Section 4 updates Council for the latest funding position for Midlothian Integration Joint Board. In 25 -26 the IGB reported a significant adverse var…”

Care at home waiting times

Members challenged the long waits for care-at-home packages, with some cases taking many weeks. Officers said packages are assessed and reviewed based on need, that hospital-based assessments can over…

“On page 83 on the care at home learning development. Now, I wasn't surprised to see under the heading number of weeks waiting for packages for care in…”

Significant Financial Overspend Position

The Integration Joint Board faces a critical financial position with a Quarter 1 forecast showing an overspend of 9.1 million pounds against a budget of 150 million pounds. The primary driver is socia…

“forecast to be overspent by 9.1 million pounds in the current financial year... we had 5 million pounds of targets and the social care position we've …”

Health and Social Care Partnership Major Financial Overspend

IJB facing £8.4m projected overspend for current financial year, with £5.2m relating to adult social care. Demand growth outstripping cost reduction measures. HSCP team implementing financial recovery…

“There is very little wriggle room for us now and new demand is outstripping anything that we can do”

Critical Adult Social Care Financial Pressure

Adult social care services facing £2.3 million of £3.9 million total Q3 2025-26 overspend (59% of total deficit). Despite delivery of £4+ million recovery actions, underlying demand and demographic pr…

“At Q3 our projected year-end overspend is £3.9 million across health and social care. The main drive for that financial position is adult social care,…”

Residential care bed capacity

Adult social care said the council still has fewer care home beds than needed, and new buyer capacity remains below the preferred 60 beds after being reduced to 48 following a poor inspection. Officer…

“In relation to new buyers. It is helpful as a reminder that the reason the numbers dropped to 48 was on the back of a poor care inspector at inspectio…”

Planning Appeal Decision - Asda Retail Pod Approved

Local Review Body has approved the planning appeal to remove the 1-year condition on the retail pod at Asda New Pentland, Lonhead, making it a permanent structure. Decision to be issued through Chair …

“Is that the feeling of the LRB, that we allow the planning, we uphold the appeal and allow the planning? I second Kelly's.”

2023 Housing Land Audit - 11,799 Units Remaining Supply

2023 Housing Land Audit framework establishes remaining housing supply of 11,799 units for Midlothian against Scottish Government target of 8,850 units over 10-year MLD P2 period (equivalent to 885 un…

“the existing housing allocations will be able to meet much of this requirement as set out in paragraph 2.8 of the report 908 units were completed in 2…”

Planning Appeal Decision - Cairnbank Road Housing Rejected

Local Review Body has voted 4-3 to reject the planning appeal for 4 dwelling houses at land east of 19 Cairnbank Road, Penicuik. Appeal is upheld and planning permission is refused due to concerns reg…

“I would like to formally move to refuse planning permission and uphold— no, no, what's the word? Correct me. Not uphold the appeal, reject the appeal.”

Council Reserves Depletion - Approaching Minimum Threshold

Non-earmarked general fund reserves have declined to £6.8 million as of the current financial year, down from £9 million at 31 March 2024. This is dangerously close to the Council's minimum 2% reserve…

“That leaves us, or left us, with £9 million of non -year mark reserves at 31 March 2024. That really is the figure that we talk about as the amount of…”

Q2 Financial Monitoring - Projected Underspend

Midlothian Council Q2 2022-23 financial monitoring shows projected underspend of £1.44M (improvement of £1.667M from Q1). Key variances include: £1.141M lower loan charges due to lower capital spend a…

“section 2 of the report she was an in year projected underspend of 1 point for for 2 million pounds, which is a 1.6 6 7 million pound improvement on t…”

Capital debt and borrowing pressure

Audit Scotland and officers highlighted a major increase in the council’s indebtedness, with borrowing projected to rise sharply over the coming years. Members questioned the affordability of servicin…

“In your report it's indicated the indebtedness of this council will rise to $990 million from around about $350 million now in a few years. and so of …”