By Local Democracy Reporter Peter Davison
The black hole in Wiltshire Council’s finances has widened.
The council has a legal duty to deliver a balanced budget, but a predicted overspend of £6.5 million has now widened to £6.6 million after three months.
In September, the council was forced to dip into reserves to try to narrow the gap.
And at a meeting of the council’s cabinet on Tuesday 11th November, senior councillors will be asked to approve a further dipping into reserves.
The predicted £6.6 million overspend represents 1.3 per cent of the council’s £527 million budget.
Nevertheless, the Liberal Democrat administration insists it is “facing up to and responding to budget challenges.”
The authority said the primary pressures continue to be within adult and children’s social care services. These are being driven by the complexity of the support required by people.
And whilst the government offered assistance to councils in the wake of the rise in Employers National Insurance, the tax has hit the private care sector hard – and that, along with inflation, is driving up the costs of statutory services the council buys in.
To address the cost pressures, the council is managing staff vacancies when they arise – the authority is currently running a vacancy rate of around seven per cent – and restricting non-essential and discretionary spending.
It is also dipping into reserves and bringing forward savings it had originally intended to make in future years.
Wiltshire Council leader Ian Thorn, said, “Any forecast overspend is not acceptable and must be rectified by determined and vigorous action
“We remain committed to delivering a balanced budget at year end despite significant financial pressures, particularly within vitally important social care services.”
Meanwhile, top table councillors have been out and about in the community talking to residents about their spending priorities at libraries and leisure centres.
“During our recent public consultation events on next year’s budget, colleagues and I have been heartened by the really interesting and constructive conversations we’ve had with so many residents and the large numbers also participating online,” said Cllr Thorn.
“It is clear that residents recognise the challenges we face and the tough choices that will have to be made.”
