Opposition councillors have criticised BCP Council’s projected £27 million overspend.
BCP Council has entered a “red spend control environment” and introduced strict measures to reduce costs, imposing limits on recruitment, agency spending, overtime, procurement, and discretionary expenses.
The financial crisis is being driven by soaring demand in adult and children’s social care, combined with declining government funding.
Councillor John Beesley, leader of the Conservative group, said: “Residents have repeatedly been asked to pay more on the promise that difficult decisions were putting BCP’s finances on a sustainable footing.
“The Lib Dem-led administration set this budget. They increased council tax to fund it. They described it as sustainable.
“They must now take responsibility for explaining why it has gone so badly off course.”
Councillor Patrick Canavan, leader of the Labour group, said: “There is a national funding issue particularly around adult social care, children’s services and SEND.
“However, that does not absolve the administration from scrutiny of how BCP has managed its finances, what savings have been chosen, what services have been cut, and where money is being spent.”
Green group leader Councillor Simon Bull said: “The overspend due to increased costs in statutory obligations and reduced funding from the government will result in cuts to non‑statutory spend.”
“None of the choices the council has are easy, but they must be openly acknowledged.
“The council must be transparent about the limited options available and the impact on local services.”
Reform Group leader Councillor Duane Farr said “After three and a half years of Liberal Democrat leadership, BCP Council’s finances appear to have gone from bad to worse.
“Taxpayers deserve absolute clarity over where their money is going.
“Residents should not be expected to keep paying more while the council continues to spend beyond its means.”
Councillor Mike Cox, deputy leader of the Three Towns Alliance, said: “Despite the relentless cost pressures from Labour’s NI increases as well as a £15m real terms cut in funding by 2028/29, BCP Council continues to work for residents, protect the most vulnerable in our society, providing active leadership to manage the spike in children taken into care and rising adult care needs, whilst continuing to deliver day-to-day services for local people.
“The Three Towns Alliance have prioritised fixing the mess created the last administration and in that time we have removed the Government’s Best Value warning notice, transformed services including Housing and Children’s Social Care, and are delivering on our residents’ priorities.”
