Durham County Council has forecast an overspend of almost £5m on children's services
A COUNCIL service looking after children and young people is set to overspend by almost £5m.
Durham County Council’s children’s services has forecast a yearly overspend of £4.7m, primarily because of pressures caused by the number of looked after children in the county.
An extra £2.9m is being included in the 2018/19 budget to allow it to stabilise.
In all other council service areas there is expected to be an underspend, totalling £169,000.
Deputy council leader councillor Alan Napier said: “We are seeing huge pressure on the looked after children budget. Our children are our number one priority.
“Seventy-five per cent of local authorities will overspend in this area across the country.”
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