Hole in children's services budget at Powys council

At the council's cabinet meeting on Tuesday councillors were told that the overspend was in a relatively small budget of £13 million.

Looked after children are a major part of the service's costs.

Interim director of social services, Phil Evans said out-of-county care was raising costs to the authority.

"There is one, very sad case, where a child's special needs are such that the cost of care is £350,000," he said.

"I hope that that child is having the excellent care it needs. This shows the impact that just one child can have on the budget."

He said that on the postive side Powys had just recruited eight new foster carers that, he said would help bring costs down.

Councillor Myfanwy Alexander said she would like to see the council work with the private sector to ensure that such specialist care could be provided within the county.

"We have shied away from working with the private sector in the past but at least it would mean the money was spent in Powys and it would also help the family if the child was looked after closer to home."

Councillors were told that officers were talking to the care sector to grow a more resilient children's services.