> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Cabinet members hail figures revealing county council ended year with a £6million underspend
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/cabinet-members-hail-figures-revealing-county-council-ended-year-with-a-6million-underspend/
- Published: 2026-06-19T13:12:13.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-20T15:53:06.000Z
- Description: Staffordshire County Council has ended the last financial year with an underspend of more than £6million.
- Author: Kerry Ashdown, Local Democracy Reporter
- Tags: Politics

STAFFORDSHIRE County Council has ended the last financial year with an underspend of more than £6million.

Cabinet members welcomed the final financial report for 2025-26 at their meeting, which revealed a saving of £6.696million – 0.89% – compared to the balanced budget of more than £750million.

Savings included almost £1million in the adult social care and safeguarding budget and more than £3million in inclusive education and learning.

But care placement costs for children were over budget by £3.762million, while the older people and physical disabilities budget, including extra care, was overspent by £7.135million.

The High Needs Block, which provides support for children and young people withspecial educational needs and disabilities (SEND), was overspent by £43.6million at the end of the financial year, reflecting growing demand for support and increasing complexity of need and costs, a report to the cabinet meeting said.

The Government has put in place a "statutory override", meaning this deficit remains separate to the council’s other reserves for the time being, however.

Cabinet members were asked to approve contributions to reserves, as well as a newly set-up reserve to support future spend associated with local government reorganisation (LGR).

The report said:

> "The 2025-26 savings made through the workforce efficiency review, along with a specific LGR grant received in 2025-26, will contribute to this reserve.”

Cllr Sean Bagguley, cabinet member for finance and resources, said at the meeting:

> "We’ve successfully delivered a £753million budget with a small surplus in the face of rising costs for fuel, material and wages.  
>  
> "I think it is fair to say this is a result of consistently strong, detailed management, with a focus on delivering the services people need – constantly remembering that every pound of public money spent is spent wisely.  
>  
> "The revenue outturn highlights an underspend of £6.696million. We should not underestimate what an achievement that is, bearing in mind rising costs associated with employee costs and CPI rate of around 3%.  
>  
> "I think it is real evidence that the efficiency programmes are bedding in nicely. While achieving these savings and efficiencies, we’re also meeting our obligations, with £330million spent on adult social care, £223million on services for children and families and large investments – £74million – into highways and £29million into new and improved school buildings.  
>  
> "That is an excellent achievement and something we should all be proud of."

Council leader Cllr Martin Murray said:

> "It really is amazing the savings we have found when you bring in the increase we’ve had in National Insurance, wages and energy which runs across every single structure.  
>  
> "It shows fantastic work by the whole team here at the county council and they need to be noted for that work they have done to find that."