Councillors question £200m education deficit in Devon

Devon County Council has a budget deficit for children's services of about £163m

Councillors have been quizzing bosses and leaders over a massive overspend on the education budget in Devon.

Conservative-led Devon County Council agreed a deal with the government on Thursday to get £95m towards paying off a £163m debt for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Liberal Democrat member Julian Brazil asked what cuts to services would be made to stick to the budget.

The council's chief executive said local placements would reduce costs.

The county council's children's scrutiny committee meeting heard the deficit was forecast to continue to grow to reach £207m by 2028.

The council said it expected to increase the deficit by £36m in the year 2024/25, but then to see that figure reduce to £4m-£5m a year.

Mr Brazil, who represents Kingsbridge, said: "What cuts and savings are going to be made to children's services to save £30m-£40m per year?"

'Unpalatable cost-cutting'

Packages of financial help have been made to local authorities across the country under a process known as a Safety Valve agreement.

Mr Brazil said: "What we are hearing from other councils is that some of the cost-cutting measures are unpalatable."

Donna Manson, chief executive of the council, told members the local authority was currently spending millions of pounds on placements outside the county for children with special educational needs or disabilities.

She said the council was working on improving local provision which would save money.

The scrutiny committee also heard the safety valve money from government over the next nine years depended on the council reaching "key milestones".

Following the meeting, Lois Samuel, cabinet member for SEND, and Conservative member for Okehampton Rural, said: "We have to reduce the deficit to nothing.

"The Department for Education believes our plan is robust and we're going out and we're making those changes to bring that deficit down."