Hertfordshire Council News

26 Sep 2024

Hertfordshire County Council’s in-year budget position shows £900,000 overspend

Hertfordshire County Council’s in-year budget position shows £900,000 overspend: County Hall 2022 1200x675-3

The latest forecast of Hertfordshire County Council’s budget for the 2024/25 financial year will be presented to the Resources and Performance Cabinet Panel on 3 October 2024. The report estimates an overspend of just under £1 million for the current financial year. 

The council’s prudent financial planning, which included a £20 million contingency fund built into 2024/25 budget will be used to bring down in-year overspends, but departments across the council will be asked to develop and deliver action plans to reduce the need to call upon these funds.

Whilst inflation has reduced, the council continues to see the cost of materials increase, energy prices remain stubbornly high while pressures grow as more people require the vital services that we provide, particularly to the most vulnerable.

The largest in-year pressures on the council’s budget include £7.8 million within adult disability services due to a larger than predicted number of people requiring supported living and £8.9 million in respect of children who are looked after, due to the increasing cost of placing those who require care into independent placements.

Councillor Richard Roberts, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council said:

“Like all local authorities we are again seeing pressures on our budget in-year due to a range of external factors, but thanks to our prudent financial planning I believe we are well placed to bring down this overspend to ensure that we can meet the challenges that are just over the horizon.”

“By ensuring earlier in the year that additional funding was available we will be able to continue to support the most vulnerable while driving down on our own costs, making ourselves as efficient as possible so that every penny we spend is done to the betterment of Hertfordshire.”

About Hertfordshire County Council

We are Hertfordshire County Council. We are responsible for delivering hundreds of services to the 1.2million people who live in the county.  

When our residents pay their council tax, they trust us to keep them safe at home and out in the community, to act with care and compassion, and to make Hertfordshire a great place to live and work, where everyone feels welcome. 

We support Hertfordshire residents from the earliest moments right through to the late stages of life.

To find out more about all the services we provide and what we deliver for our residents visit: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/weare  

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