SAVINGS of more than £37 million need to be made in County Durham next year with cuts to frontline services “inevitable”.

Children’s services and care services for adults are likely to be hit as Durham County Council tries to cut £37.3 million from its budget in 2017/18.

The authority still needs to make an estimated saving of £64.1 million by 2020, which means it will have slashed £245 million since 2011.

The council is discussing its financial future at a special cabinet meeting which has been called for Wednesday, July 20, when councillors will be asked to approve a consultation on the public’s spending priorities.

Council leader Cllr Simon Henig said: “We continue to face the toughest of times and many significant uncertainties, including the impact of leaving the European Union. In response it is vital that we continue our planned and managed approach to reaching our savings target and that we update our plans as further information becomes available.

“It is also very important that we continue to ask the public, our communities, local groups and organisations, employers and partner agencies for their thoughts on our proposals for further savings. Alongside this we’ll be seeking the public’s view on how we have managed the cuts to date.”

A council report has outlined £29.1 million of possible savings, leaving a shortfall of £8.2 million, which could come from reserves or further cutbacks.

Potential savings include £6 million by reviewing adult care services, £333,000 by increasing the charges for adult care provision and £250,000 in transport savings by reducing the number of people travelling for day care.

A further £750,000 of savings is suggested by reviewing the council’s youth service and more than £1.9 million by reviewing education services. Meanwhile the council’s children’s services, which were recently rated as requiring improvement in an Ofsted inspection, could see cuts of around £1 million.

The authority is planning to continue providing council tax support for low income households.

Cllr Alan Napier, the council’s deputy leader, said: “Whilst we are having to make these significant reductions, it is important we continue to protect, as best we can, some of our most vulnerable residents.”