This meeting was scheduled to receive reports on the projected overspend in Social Services, and the projected budgets for the Education directorate.

Social Services Budget

The Social Services department is currently forecasting an overspend of £490k against their total budget of £139,133,000 for 2024/25.

The largest contributor to this overspend is in Children's Services, where costs associated with residential care for children, including secure accommodation, are projected to exceed budget by £2,086,000. Foster care placements are also facing increased pressure.

Since the month 3 budget monitoring report was presented to Scrutiny Members in September, there has been a 266-week reduction in the number of weeks that the Children’s Services Division is committed to support in independent foster care placements. This has been more than offset by an increase of 289-week increase in placements with local authority carers, relatives and special guardians. Public reports pack 03rd-Dec-2024 17.30 Education and Social Services Scrutiny Committee

Supported living placements for vulnerable adults are facing similar pressure. These overspends are currently being offset by savings from unfilled positions.

Education Budget

The Education directorate is forecasting an overspend of £1.446m against their total budget for 2024/25.

The largest element of the overspend is in Home to School/College Transport, which the report describes as a significant financial pressure for the authority.

Members will be aware that a significant financial pressure for the Authority relates to our Home to School / College transport provision. At the end of financial year 2023-24 the Authority reported a £1.4m overspend. Public reports pack 03rd-Dec-2024 17.30 Education and Social Services Scrutiny Committee

This overspend is driven by both an increase in demand, and the rising costs being quoted by contractors, which were not accounted for in the original budget.

The directorate is also required to make £1.319m of both permanent and temporary savings, and the report outlines the progress being made in identifying them.

The report notes that in addition to the overspend in the central Education budget, there is a projected collective deficit of £1.59m in the budgets of Caerphilly's 85 schools.