Children services £13m overspend ' a real pressure'

The Chancellor of Essex has warned “next year’s budget is going to be hard one”.

Chris Whitbread, the county council cabinet member responsible for finance, said there were "real pressures" in children's services.

He unveiled a £13m overspend this year with some placements for children with complex needs costing up to £25,000 a week.

Mr Whitbread told councillors there would be a "tough balancing act" on tax and how to fund services.

He told a full council meeting that £846m has been spent on adult social care - an increase of £74m on last year.

He said increasing demand and adults being discharged from hospital requiring complex care contributed to the rise.

Other cost pressures facing the Conservative-run council included a 25% increase in the cost of transport for children with special educational needs (Send).

Mr Whitbread said the cost is forecast to be £35.7m and it's "rising year on year".

Speaking about other expenditures, the Chancellor of Essex said £25m of works were underway in the county to resurface roads, fix potholes, clean road signs and clear vegetation.

It was part of an extra £38m spend in highways.

There had been criticism of the spend on road maintenance which Essex Highways described in the past as being in "managed decline".

A council report in 2022 said £77.7m needed to be spent on maintaining roads in the county. This year, £39.2m was budgeted for road maintenance.

Liberal Democrat David King said there are "thousands of miles of road and highways and pavements and many of them are in a very, very poor condition".

Mr King said the additional highways money is "great to see but its not in itself enough".

Deputy Leader Louise Mckinlay announced a £1m fund to help some of the 300,000 pensioners who could loose their winter fuel allowance.

Pensioners were eligible for £200-300 to help with their energy bills, but the government has means tested the payment to save money.

The new fund would be aimed at low income pensioners who can apply for money via the essential living fund.

Asked if Essex pensioners would received up to £300, Mrs Mckinlay said "it could be slightly more".

District and unitary councils like Labour-led Basildon and Thurrock have launched funds to help pensioners who have just missed out on the winter fuel allowance.

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