Shropshire Council says £51m savings are on-track or have been made
Three quarters of Shropshire Council’s huge £51.4 million savings target for this year has been achieved in the first six months, new figures show.
A report to councillors says that by the end of September, savings of £38m had either been made or were on track to be made, but says the remaining £13.4m needs to be reviewed as some planned measures are now “in doubt”.
It also says the council is facing additional pressures from higher demand than anticipated in adults’ and children’s social care – meaning a worst case scenario of a £32.3m overspend by next April if no further action is taken.
However the report by James Walton, director of resources, says the authority “continues to robustly manage its finances” and expects to bring this under control over the coming months.
The savings target for this year comes as the council aims to get a grip on its finances once and for all, through a complete overhaul of how services are delivered.
The report says: “We will need to make the adjustments this year but Shropshire residents will reap the rewards for many years to come, through improved financial stability.”
Mr Walton says that going forward, this will enable the council to “grow our potential, seeking continuous improvement, greater resilience and increased efficiency in all aspects of our work”.
