More cash for needy children

The Council is to launch a three-year action plan aimed at improving the lot of youngsters in care, families, older people and people with disabilities.

Help to pay for the strategy will come from a six per cent increase in cash from the Government over the next three years. The news will be announced on Tuesday by finance director Steve Morris, who will reveal that the Council has managed to claw back on its projected overspend.

The authority expected to be £1.07 million in the red by the end of the financial year, but due to a £475,000 fall in the estimated overspend by social services, the debt has been reduced to £597,000.

But the social services budget had still risen because of the increased number of needy children looked after - from a predicted 765 by March to an actual 888, councillors will learn.

"Other pressures on the service included an increase in people with physical and learning disabilities, an anticipated increase in older people and a need for more services for mental health needs," said Alison O'Sullivan, social services director.

The new three-year action plan would increase local residential and foster care provision for children in care.

It aims to provide help to children and families in need and greater community-based support for older people. And it would continue to maintain levels of support for the rising numbers of people with physical disabilities and mental health problems.

"Investments in preventative services are recommended which are designed to reduce the need for more expensive care in the longer term," Mrs O'Sullivan added.

Mr Morris said the Council had been able to make savings of £3.2 million on debt charges because it had switched to cheaper borrowing rates.

And the building maintenance service was expected to make a surplus of £100,000 after reporting a likely overspend earlier in the year.

The proposed Council budget for the new financial year is £550.1 million.