Adult social care services in Harrow can expect “more challenges” ahead as part of the wider recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, council officers said.

A Harrow Council health and wellbeing board heard yesterday (Tuesday, March 23) that there is “quite a tension” in the department, as it seeks to manage changing demand and strained finances.

Donna Edwards, finance business partner for adults and public health at Harrow Council, explained just under £2 million worth of services for 2021/22 will be covered by reserves.

This is despite an £86 million contribution to the sector, including a council tax precept of three per cent, that supports more than 3,000 residents and more than 500 carers in the borough.

Ms Edwards explained the funding gap will need to be managed by the council over the next couple of budgets, which could include cuts in adult social care.

Angela Morris, director of adult social services at Harrow Council, added pressures are only likely to increase as the country moves out of Covid-19 restrictions.

She explained the council could expect higher demand as residents resume their care packages or return to care homes once the virus is more controlled.

And she noted there has been more requests for support around mental health and domestic abuse throughout the pandemic, which has had an additional impact on services.

Cllr Graham Henson (Lab, Roxbourne), leader of Harrow Council, said this was an example of the “very fragile” nature of the borough’s finances following the coronavirus outbreak as he acknowledged the probable knock-on effect on future budgets.

And Cllr Simon Brown (Lab, Headstone South), who is responsible for adults and public health at Harrow Council, called on the Government to provide greater clarity on any support on how to manage this.

“We are under pressure; there’s no doubt about it, we have very little wiggle room,” he said.

“Covid doesn’t end on June 21, it’s going to carry on for the rest of this year and beyond.

“It’s so difficult to plan when we don’t know what the funding streams will be – it’s a bit hand to mouth so we await, with interest, for government solutions.”