Issue - decisions

“We continue to do what is necessary to support our most vulnerable residents who need us most, while creating the right conditions for our economy and businesses to thrive.

Our work to promote Staffordshire as a top location to live, work, invest in and visit continues.  Our ‘We are Staffordshire’ team attended the UK Real Estate Infrastructure and Investment Conference in Leeds in May where they got the chance to promote the many investment opportunities available in the county. This, alongside supporting local businesses, helping attract new businesses with better quality jobs for people remains a priority.

Our Household Support Fund continues to help thousands of local families with the ongoing cost of living pressures and during the May half term holiday provided supermarket vouchers to 27,000 families. Over Easter, the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme also saw its highest take up rate meaning more children and young people benefited from the scheme.

Work to tackle climate change is ongoing, and since December 2022, the Staffordshire Warmer Homes scheme has installed 459 measures in 328 properties to make them more energy efficient.

We continue to face challenges within Children’s services including the rising cost, number and complexity of Children in Care, and ongoing placement pressures, however additional recruitment is helping ease this. We are also seeing Increased demand for Children’s Services and Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) for Education, Health and Care Plans, but again, the recruitment of additional staffing capacity is underway.

Despite the many pressures facing councils like ours, we will invest to keep growing the county in a sustainable way to make a positive difference in the lives of our residents”.

Alan White, Leader of the Council

“All council departments continue to deliver against their priorities, whilst progressing with activities in the organisation’s Delivery Plan. 

Like most local authorities, we do face rising costs across the organisation and high inflation which puts extra pressures on our finances.  We also continue to face challenges around demand and capacity within Children’s services and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities teams.

We continue to do what is necessary and to manage our finances effectively. The latest revenue forecast outturn shows an overspend of £9.5m (1.39%), compared to the balanced budget.

We continue to keep our finances in as strong a position as possible and to ensure that we provide good value for money for local taxpayers. Well managed finances also mean we can invest in our future and continue to grow our economy”.

Ian Parry, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources