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North Northamptonshire Council Scrambles to Plug £32M Funding Gap
29 Aug
Summary
- North Northamptonshire Council needs £32M in savings for next year's budget
- Rising costs in children's and adult services put significant pressure on finances
- Council forecasts budget gaps growing to £53M in 2027/28 and £73M by 2028/29
As of August 29th, 2025, North Northamptonshire Council is grappling with a significant financial challenge. The council has announced that it will need to find £32 million in savings to help close a funding gap in its budget for the upcoming year.
The primary drivers behind this funding shortfall are the rising costs in children's and adult social services, which have put substantial pressure on the council's finances. This year's £405 million budget is already projected to overspend by £9 million, largely due to these pressures in social care and children's services.
Looking ahead, the council's financial forecasts paint an even more concerning picture. Budget gaps are expected to grow to £53 million in 2027/28 and reach £73 million by 2028/29. To address these deficits, the council's finance director, Claire Edwards, has stated that work is underway to find efficiencies, generate additional income, and implement transformation projects.
Despite the challenges, the council has been granted a three-year funding settlement, which, according to Ms. Edwards, "gives [the council] an opportunity to have much more certainty around some of the decisions that we could make." The council's directors and budget managers will be tasked with reviewing spending, with a particular focus on adult social care, home-to-school transport, and children's services.
As the council works to navigate these financial hurdles, it must agree on a balanced budget and council tax levels by February 2026, ensuring it can continue to provide essential services to the community.
