Herts County Council faces a potential £24.4m overspend despite savings. Meeting set to decide on budget adjustments.
A recent report shows a possible £24.4 million overspend. Council members will discuss this at a meeting on Friday, February 14th.
They will discuss moving money from other budgets. A £20 million emergency fund could help. This would lower the overspend to £4.4 million. Moving £6.6 million more could create a surplus.
The forecast shows a £1.2 million surplus. The cabinet will make the final call on February 24th. The report states councils face higher service demands. Social care services are especially complex and costly. This council wants to stay well-managed.
The forecast shows a possible overspend before using the fund. The rising demand and cost of care affect this. Other authorities face similar problems.
A prior report predicted a £20.1 million overspend. Adult and children’s social care face increased pressures. Demands have risen higher than expected. The council already cut costs by £10 million this year.
These savings help manage the budget well. The council plans £41 million in total savings. The schools budget may overspend by £13.1 million too. High needs funding faces a £15 million shortfall. This supports children with special needs.