Savings of £32m sought to balance budget

A council has announced it will need to find £32m in savings to help close a funding gap in next year's budget.

North Northamptonshire Council said rising costs in children's and adult services had put significant pressure on finances.

This year's £405m budget is already forecast to overspend by £9m, largely due to pressures in social care and children's services.

The Reform UK-led local authority said government funding remained "very uncertain" beyond 2026/27, with reforms expected later this year.

Forecasts also show budget gaps growing to £53m in 2027/28 - and £73m by 2028/29.

Although the 2026/27 budget will not be set until February next year, senior officers and councillors have already begun discussions to ensure a balanced plan can be delivered.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council's finance director Claire Edwards said work was under way to address the deficits through efficiencies, generating income and transformation projects.

Ms Edwards added: We have a three-year funding settlement proposed [which] gives [the council] an opportunity to have much more certainty around some of the decisions that we could make."

Directors and budget managers will be asked to review spending, with particular focus on adult social care, home to school transport and children's services.

The local authority must agree a balanced budget and council tax levels in February 2026.

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