Cheshire West and Chester Council is facing a projected overspend of £9.5 million this year, largely due to higher costs in children's and adult social care. 

Next Wednesday (Jan 15), the council's ruling cabinet will be briefed on a number of further cost-saving measures designed to reduce the figure.

To rein in a projected overspend, any spending above £5,000 will be scrutinised and some recruitment put on hold.

Council chiefs are set to be briefed on the current financial situation next week, with children's and adult social care budgets contributing to pushing the authority over its yearly budget.

The council said there were 'significant increases' in external mental health costs, older people's services, learning disability services, and the need to hire agency social workers to cover vacant roles.

These areas had seen a forecast overspend increase from £8.3m predicted earlier in the year, to £9.5m.

This will include, all new spending commitments of more than £5,000 to be subject to a weekly review/approval by management board who will assess whether it is essential.

Alongside tighter vacancy management and increased focus on 'prompt raising of debt invoices and collection'.

A report to the cabinet said: "Despite the actions being undertaken to reduce the underlying pressures on a permanent basis, current indications are that many of the pressures being faced by the council this year are likely to continue into the next financial year and beyond.

It will be important that members are aware of all the challenges facing the council and the proposed measures to tackle these both on an in year basis and as part of the budget setting process."

The report said a further area of financial strain was the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

This is ring-fenced money which can be spent only on schools.

The authority said it is forecasting an overspend of £10.7m, which is a £1.1m increase from the £9.6m reported at mid year review.

It said this was due to continuing demand and cost pressures on the high needs (SEND) provision budgets.

It added that making up any deficit from council reserves would reduce its reserves to £16.7m.

The report added: "This would seriously impact the financial resilience of the council and a plan would be required to return the general reserves balance to an appropriate level as soon as possible."