THE rising cost of social services is threatening to turn Worcestershire County Council into a “care authority”.

Worcestershire already spends about three quarters of its revenue budget on support for adults and children, with demand and costs rising in both sectors.

The County Councils Network (CCN), which represents 37 local authorities, said adult social care, children’s services and home to school transport account for 83 per cent of the total increase in costs councils will face by 2030.

Unless a £54bn funding black hole is filled, councils will be able to provide “little more than care services” within a few years, the CCN said.

Cllr Matt Jenkins, leader of the Green and Independent Alliance group at Worcestershire County Council, said: “I don't think many people realise the high proportion of spending that goes on adult and children’s services.

“The three areas of adult care, children’s services (Worcestershire Children’s First) and home to school transport total almost 69 per cent of the council’s revenue budget.”

CONCERNS: County councillor Matt JenkinsCONCERNS: County councillor Matt Jenkins

By the end of this financial year, the council is also expected to have a deficit of £87m on the Dedicated Schools Grant it gets from the government.

“Currently the deficit sits as a negative unusable reserve on the balance sheet permitted via a statutory instrument,” said Cllr Jenkins. “In other words, it is a massive debt the government lets us ignore.

“But the council has to use its own money to fill this gap. If the government decided to stop allowing this statutory instrument (the override is due to end in March 2026), then we and many other councils would go bust.

“So, if you add that £87m to our current spend on adult and children's services, it means we spend around 74 per cent of our revenue budget on support for adults and children.”

READ MORE: Bleak £23 million hole in children's budget revealed

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said it forecasts an overspend for 2024/25 of £14.2m at the end of June on its £433.1m net budget.

“Despite addressing the structural deficit (£35 million) in the 2024/25 budget, this financial year continues to be a challenging time for local government and the county council is no exception.

“The financial pressures facing upper tier councils come both as a result of the increase in cost of providing services and more people needing to use the services we provide.

“The main areas of overspend are £5m in adult social care, £3m in home to school transport  and £6m children’s social care will be offset by underspending in other directorates and additional income from treasury management activity.

“The County Council Network report outlines the financial context social care authorities are facing, and we urge the government to recognise these pressures and look at legislation in the budget at the end of October.”