More cash for adult care and children’s services in Devon’s target budget

New figures published today show a proposed 8.2 per cent increase in the revenue budget for adult services with a 5.5 per cent rise in children’s services and 3.4 per cent extra for climate change, environment and transport.

There will be more money to provide care for Devon’s vulnerable adults and children in the county council’s target budget for 2025/26.

New figures published today show a proposed 8.2 per cent increase in the revenue budget for adult services with a 5.5 per cent rise in children’s services and 3.4 per cent extra for climate change, environment and transport.

Reductions in other departmental spending means an overall rise of 5.9 per cent in the budget for next year with a total spend of over £784.1 million.

Our Cabinet will discuss the details next month with our full council set to debate the budget in February.

In a new report,  Director of Finance, Angie Sinclair, says there has been a renewed drive across the council to cut costs.

But she adds: “Inflationary pressures continue to be felt across the economy, local government and our partners, despite the rate of inflation reducing in the past two years from its peak. 

“Social care is particularly impacted by increases to the national living wage which is again increased by above inflation and the increases to National Insurance announced in the Chancellor’s Budget.”

“The cost of inflation places sustained financial pressures both on our households and communities and our suppliers and service providers and contributes to the ongoing impact in terms of price and demand pressures on the authority’s budget. 

 “This is reflected in the proposed target budgets with total investment of £31.9 million to cover inflation and national living wage plus £33.8 million to cover demand and other spending pressures and priorities. 

“To enable the authority to set a balanced budget, savings, alternative funding and additional income of £21.7 million have been identified.

“Overall, there is additional funding of £44 million or 5.9% for services next year compared to the adjusted base budget.”

 She says there are no plans to raid the council’s balances to boost spending.

 “This reflects a strategy of ‘living within our means’ and as such to set service budgets that are affordable within anticipated income and funding totals for next year.”

 Angie Sinclair will tell the Cabinet that the target budget includes the loss of £10.1 million in Government support to rural areas. The money is being re-directed to areas of deprivation and Devon will not receive any cash at all.

It means Devon has the lowest settlement increase of any of the 21 county councils.