Higher demand for external residential care placements is adding to pressure on Renfrewshire Council’s Children’s Services budget, councillors have been told.
The service is forecasting a £1.528 million overspend for 2026/27, equivalent to 0.5% of its revised £296.275 million budget.
The position was discussed at the council’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board on Thursday, 29th October 2026.
An officer explained that the placement budget was based on the previous year’s spending, with provision for two additional placements.
More than two additional placements had been required this year, with children needing accommodation for protection reasons.
The officer said decisions to remove children from home were made only when this was in their best interests, and that demand was difficult to predict accurately.
The report forecasts a £579,000 overspend within children and families services.
Across Children’s Services, transport costs are expected to exceed budget by £509,000. The report identifies contract price inflation as the main factor, alongside increased demand and transport pressures within children and families services.
Additional support for learning is forecasting a £314,000 overspend, including pressures from demand for additional support needs assistants and transport.
Councillors also asked about an improvement in the early years budget forecast.
A finance officer said a long-standing strategy budget of roughly £190,000 had been given up to help meet savings requirements. In the previous year, that money had been passed to early learning establishments for furniture improvements.
Early learning and childcare is forecasting a £121,000 overspend.
The financial projections are based on the position at 11th September and remain subject to change. The separate £49.658 million capital programme is forecast to remain within budget.