Increasing costs on children's services have forced Staffordshire County Council to overspend by over £11 million.

This total accounts for all of the overspending for the authority, which in the last financial year spent £621 million.

The increase in children's services spending has been due to the number and complexity of child protection and children in care. There has also been an increase in demand for education, health and care plans (EHCP), which is available if a child or young person needs more support than is available through special educational needs support.

The increase in children in care is also due to an increase in the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, currently 106 compared to the overall number of children in care which is 1385 compared to the previous quarter 1372 and higher than the national benchmark.

Within the department there have also been staffing issues which has meant the number of ECHPs issued within the target 20 weeks is only 34 per cent. This takes the overall overspend of the children's services budget to £11.9 million.

With underspending in other departments this takes the complete overspend to £11.2 million

Cllr Ian Parry, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources said,"Significant progress has been made across the organisation during quarter four and during the year with departments delivering on key areas of work.

"We still face pressures from inflation across all council areas which we continue to monitor carefully. Challenges around recruitment and demand within children's services also continue which we are trying to address within our longer-term plans. The final outturn position for the county council for the year is an overspend of £11.294m (1.9 per cent). The quarter three forecast was an overspend of £11.635m.

"Like most local authorities, we still face financial challenges, but we are a well-run council and continue to keep our finances in as strong a position as possible. Well managed finances means we can continue to invest in our future, grow our economy and improve people's lives."

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