Herefordshire Council is facing significant budget pressures in 2023/24, with a projected overspend of £13.5m. The council's Cabinet is due to consider a report on the financial forecast on 28 September, which outlines the initial actions that will be taken to reduce this to £9.5m.
The most significant budget pressure is in children and young people's services, where the current forecast is an overspend of £10.6m. This is due to a number of factors, including rising costs, increasing demand, and the need to improve the quality of services.
Other areas of budget pressure include adult social care, where the council is facing rising costs due to an ageing population and increasing demand for services. The council is also facing rising costs for fuel and energy, as well as the impact of inflation.
The council is taking a number of actions to address these budget pressures, including restrictions on the purchase of non-essential items, a reduction in the number of interim and agency staff, and restrictions on the recruitment of permanent staff. A review of services is also underway to ensure that they are delivered in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.
Despite these challenges, the council remains financially stable and is committed to reducing the cost pressures as soon as possible.
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