Children’s social care costs in York soar towards £450,000 overspend

COUNCIL bosses in York are heading for a £450,000 overspend on their services for children and young people.

Providing travel to school and maintaining staffing levels for youngsters receiving social care have placed pressure on City of York Council’s finances.

A report to the authority’s learning and culture overview and scrutiny committee next week has also revealed although the number of children in the council’s care has fallen, the cost per child is expected to rise by ten per cent.

The report by finance chiefs Richard Hartle and Debbie Mitchell and performance management officer Margi Charlson, said the children and young people’s budget could overspend by £451,000, with £216,000 of this due to social care and £149,000 surrounding home-to-school transport.

The officials said: “Looked-after children numbers have reduced slightly by two per cent, but costs are forecast to increase by ten per cent, bringing the average cost per child to more than £22,000 by the end of 2010/11.

“If York is to maintain the good value for money it has traditionally provided for looked-after children in comparison to other local authorities, this may need to be reviewed.”

Meanwhile, the council’s lifelong learning and culture budget is also facing a potential £450,000 overspend, with predicted shortfalls in income within York’s library service totalling £173,000, performing arts coming to £134,000 and the adult education service forecast to miss its target by £46,000.

The report said the number of swimming sessions people take in the city could top 800,000 by the end of the year, which would be a two per cent increase on 2009/10 and 24 per cent up on 2008/09.