West Berkshire Council is set to receive an additional £5m in funding over the next two years to support transformation of high-cost services, the Government has announced today (Tuesday 15 September).

The funding will be used to deliver high-cost services, such as social care, SEND and housing, in more efficient and effective ways. Around £2.3m is expected to be received this year (2026-27) and another £2.7m next year.

As part of its receipt of Exceptional Financial Support, West Berkshire Council has been regularly providing information to the Government to set out the changes it is making to reduce costs, and to highlight the difficulty smaller unitary councils face in meeting the need for vital services such as social care within the funding available.

Welcoming today’s announcement, the Leader of West Berkshire Council, Jeff Brooks, said: “This is very positive news and recognises the case that we have been making to Government that we are managing our money well within the exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in. In my view it has demonstrated both that we need this additional funding and that we will spend it effectively to help improve some of the services which are the most expensive to deliver – but which are also the most important.

“We have been making the case for such financial support to MHCLG for several months and I am grateful to our officers for all the work they have done in achieving this – it will make a real difference.”

A financial report for the first quarter of the year, set to be published by the Council later this week, will show that it continues to make good progress in delivering savings and managing its finances responsibly.

The report, covering April to June 2026, outlines that most Council services are being delivered broadly in line with planned budgets, and that planned savings are currently forecast to exceed expectations.

With the Council currently in receipt of Exceptional Financial Support from the Government, there continues to be a significant focus on its financial delivery to ensure services continue to be delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible.

The report, due to be considered by the Executive next week, shows savings worth £5.1 million are currently on track to be delivered this year, against an original target of £4.5 million.

Most services are being delivered on budget and some, including Development and Housing, Community Services and Environment services, are forecasting a positive financial performance through a combination of additional grant funding, income generation, contract management and careful control of spending.

While good progress is being made, the Council continues to face significant financial challenges. It’s currently forecasting an overspend of £9.3 million, with almost 90 per cent of that pressure arising from Children’s Social Care.

The pressures are largely the result of rising demand for residential care to protect and support the most vulnerable children. This reflects wider national challenges affecting councils across England. The number of children requiring complex support has increased significantly in recent years, while a national shortage of suitable placements has contributed to rising costs throughout the sector.

West Berkshire Council has a statutory responsibility to safeguard vulnerable children and ensure they receive the care and support they need. Residential placements are used when children face significant risks or have highly complex needs. Although the challenges in the sector are considerable, the Council remains committed to ensuring that children and young people are safe, and that they feel safe too.

The Council continues to take active steps to manage these pressures responsibly. Children’s social care costs are subject to weekly review, while enhanced financial controls and oversight arrangements are in place across the organisation. A new Children’s Commissioning Team has already delivered around £2.7 million in savings and cost avoidance this year through improved commissioning, contract management and placement reviews.

Councillor Iain Cottingham, Executive Member for Finance at West Berkshire Council, said: “This report shows that we’re making good progress in managing our finances responsibly and this report reflects both the positive progress we are making and the very real pressures we face.

“The vast majority of Council services are performing broadly in line with budget, and we remain on track to deliver the savings identified in this year’s budget. We are seeing positive financial performance across several services and continue to identify further efficiencies wherever possible.

“At the same time, like councils across the country, we are facing significant pressures in children’s social care. Much of this relates to the growing number of vulnerable children who require specialist residential placements and support.

“We are working hard to mitigate these pressures through stronger financial controls, careful management of placements and ongoing service improvement. Our focus remains on protecting frontline services, supporting vulnerable residents and ensuring that public money is spent wisely.”

The Executive will consider the Q1 Financial Performance Report on Thursday 24 September. The report provides an early-year snapshot of the Council’s finances and the actions being taken to manage pressures, deliver savings and maintain essential services for residents. The meeting is open to the public to attend and to watch online on West Berkshire Council’s YouTube channel.