Cost Cut Plan For Dumfries & Galloway Social Services

A package of cost-control measures has been put in place to tackle a £1.3m overspend forecast for social work services in Dumfries and Galloway.

Council officials expect to bring the deficit down to about £100,000.

They are also exploring a long-term strategy to help regulate spending in the department in years to come.

The measures being taken to address the situation are due to be outlined to councillors at a committee meeting in Dumfries on Tuesday.

The bulk of the social work overspend comes from two key areas.

The first is providing accommodation for youngsters under council care and the use of costly agency placements.

The second main pressure area facing social services is providing support for children with disabilities.

However, a series of measures have now been brought in to try to bring those costs down before the end of the financial year.