Why the £3.9m overspending?

COUNCIL finance bosses received a grilling from councillors in a marathon meeting to probe the reasons behind this year’s projected £3.9 million overspend.

The three-and-a-half hour performance and value for money select committee meeting saw councillors express their concerns that a performance report had not been available until now — seven months into the financial year.

They were told it was due to the bedding-in of a new financial computer system, and assured monthly reports would be available in future.

Interim director of finance, Peter Timmins and council finance officer Ann Ryans were put on the spot by councillors at the meeting to explain why there was a massive overspend forecast.

Vice chairman councillor Mike Buckley highlighted some of the reasons given, which included poor forecasting of demand for adult services, poor budgeting and budgetary control in heritage, libraries and arts, and underfunding for highway work.

He described the meeting as “positive,” and said the new chief executive, Charlie Parker, and his finance team faced a “massive challenge.”

He said it was vital to get finances under firm control and avoid the annual financial crises.