£10m overspend over three months for Staffordshire County Council
Staffordshire County Council has overspent by more than £10 million between April and June – and says the coronavirus pandemic is the main reason.
The authority has pledged around £22.4m to help with increased costs of staffing and personal protective equipment (PPE) in the health and care sector during the Covid-19 crisis – as well as spending £90,000 on PPE packs to help businesses across the county re-open safely as lockdown restrictions ease.
Other spends have included more than £500,000 on creating a temporary mortuary at Staffordshire County Showground in preparation for a surge in deaths during the pandemic – although the facilities did not need to be used, it was revealed last month.
The council’s overspend during the first three months of the 2020/21 financial year was not only due to Covid-19 however, a cabinet meeting heard this month.
Councillor Mike Sutherland, cabinet member for finance, said: “The latest revenue forecast outturn shows a forecast overspend of £10.149m – 1.9 per cent. This is mostly due to our response to the Covid-19 pandemic but also due to underlying cost pressures in children and education services that were evident before the crisis hit.
“The coronavirus pandemic has no doubt put extra pressures on finances as we deal with the crisis, but we continue to do what is needed and to spend what is required to get through the pandemic. We continue to ensure that the county council and its finances are managed carefully and effectively.
“Be assured, wherever spending is necessary, we will always try and get the best value for money for taxpayers and our residents.”
Earlier this month it was announced that Staffordshire County Council would receive a further £5.164m Government funding. This follows the previous tranches of £22.296m and £15.463m Government support to assist with meeting increased costs caused by coronavirus.
