Renfrewshire Council’s Children’s Services department is forecast to overspend its annual revenue budget by almost £1.5 million.
The financial position was discussed at a meeting of the council’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board on Thursday 20th August 2026.
The department has a revised annual budget of £295.184 million but is currently forecast to spend £296.680 million by the end of March 2027.
This would produce an overspend of £1.496 million, representing 0.5 per cent of the total budget.
Early learning and childcare is projected to overspend by £804,000.
Officials told councillors that around £280,000 of the early years staffing pressure relates to the remaining part of a £663,000 savings target set when the council approved its budget in February.
Additional support for learning is forecast to overspend by £605,000, mainly because of increased demand for additional support needs assistants and transport.
Secondary schools are projected to overspend by £300,000.
Transport costs across Children’s Services are expected to be £755,000 over budget.
The report said this was mainly caused by SPT contracts for mainstream and additional support transport costing more than the available budget.
Price inflation is the main factor, although an increasing number of children requiring transport has also contributed.
Officers said a recent tender exercise for additional support transport attracted more providers and could help reduce some costs, although the final figures were still being assessed.
Higher refuse collection charges and janitorial costs are also contributing to a projected £264,000 overspend on premises.
The board was told that the forecast was deliberately cautious because it is still early in the financial year and demand-led costs can change quickly.
Officials said the budget is reviewed every four weeks and work will continue to reduce the projected overspend.
They also confirmed there is no policy of deliberately leaving essential or critical vacancies unfilled to save money.
The department’s £46.867 million capital programme is currently expected to remain within budget.