THURROCK Council is approaching the year end with significant overspends in some of its key departments.

At a meeting of the authority's Conservative cabinet this evening (Wednesday, 11 March) finance portfolio holder Cllr Shane Hebb will tell his colleagues the council that additional costs in children's services and a fall in the expected rate of return from its investments have contributed to a £1.703 million 'pressure' on the budget at the end of the third quarter.

However, he says officers are 'are working to identify mitigation to deliver a balanced budget position by the end of the financial year'.

The children's services budget, one of the main items that makes up the council's general fun is forecast to be £1,066 million over budget. Adult social care, housing and health is also significantly over budget with a forecast deficit of more than half a million pounds.

While some departments within the general fund have come in under budget, those counterbalances are outweighed by reduced investment income totalling £2.217 million.

In addition, the council faces a £1.061 million overspend on the cost of its dedicated school grant (not part of the general fund) because of a rise in the number of children and young people with Special Education Needs and Disabilities and Education, Health & Care Plans.

You can read Cllr Hebb's full report to cabinet here.