Budget underspend predicted for Northamptonshire

After months of banning expenditure, new figures show that Northamptonshire County Council is forecast to be underspent in 2018/2019.

The council has just seen commissioners, who are currently overseeing the running of the authority, recommend that the Section 114 Notice be withdrawn from 1 April. Now, the current forecast year-end position is an underspend of £0.1 million – an improvement on the £0.9 million overspend position reported last month.

At the peak of it's financial crisis, the overspend at Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) was forecast at more than £64 million last year. Such a figure saw the Section 114 Notice emergency spending measure to be put in place twice.

Matt Golby, leader of the council, said: “This is a remarkable achievement for all concerned and I would like to thank everyone for their hard work in making this happen. Let’s not forget that our financial challenge stood at £64.4 million earlier this year so to be reporting such a positive situation for period 11 is a considerable accomplishment.

“However we still need to be cautious as although this is exceptionally positive it does not mean that the council has made a full recovery. Our financial position remains fragile. As such, the Council will maintain its robust spending controls, including the continuation of the spending control panels, to ensure all spending is scrutinised to demonstrate best value in fulfilling the council’s objectives.”