Amber lights flashing following huge overspend by NELC in first three months of financial year

 

An overspend of £3.2-million in just three months! The council's cabinet is due to discuss the disturbing report at a meeting this week in Grimsby Town Hall

A WORRYING report has revealed that, in just the first three months of the current financial year, North East Lincolnshire Council has overspent its budged by an estimated £3.2-million.

Yes, £3.2-million!

The bleak numbers will come under the spotlight at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday of this week.

According to the  report, the main headache for the authority is one of longstanding - the huge cost of caring for the welfare of children whose parents are either unable or willing to cope.

Because many of the care facilities are outside the borough, the authority is also having to foot colossal  bills from taxi firms.

On the positive side, the  document says "restorative actions" - though these are not defined - should help to ease the financial squeeze over the remaining nine months of the financial year.

Other pressures on NELC's funds are said to be coming from additional demand for council services and an uplift in pay for staff, plus inflation.

The report concludes: "The environment in which the council is operating is challenging in terms of   capacity to deliver our priorities within financial resources. 

"It is important that the council is transparent about the delivery of planned activities and any issues that affect delivery of the plans".