PROJECTIONS from the Vale of Glamorgan Council estimate that they are set to exceed their budget for adult social care this year by around £1 million.

The figures were reported to the council’s corporate performance and resources committee last week, with the matter since being referred to the Vale council cabinet.

Plaid Cymru leader on the Vale council, cllr Ian Johnson, a former vice-chair of the Health and Social Care committee, expressed concern that the under-pressure service would be forced to sacrifice quality in order to meet costs.

“It is still early in the financial year, but very concerning that the social services department is projecting that it will overspend £1m in the 2017-18 year,” said Mr Johnson.

“I asked whether the department would be able to reduce the overspend by the end of the year, but that is impossible to know as it depends on the situation over winter and whether more Vale residents enter the service than leave.

“My fear is that the social services department will be forced to sacrifice quality in order to meet costs.

“I am confident that staff are doing their best to maintain both cost-effective and excellent services, but if this deficit grows further because of increased need then Plaid Cymru will ask for more money to be set aside for social services before the situation gets out of control.”

The Vale council have stated that they intend to plug the gap this year by taking money from social services reserves that had been earmarked to meet expenses caused by new legislation.

The report also indicated that the council anticipate a £207,000 overspend on their ‘achievement for all’ programme, however this is set to be offset by education savings elsewhere.

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesman said: “It is currently projected that there could be an overspend of around £1 million in adult services for this financial year. The additional cost has been incurred by providing more care to people that need it, as well the increased staffing costs of care providers as a result of the National Living Wage.

“The service is striving to meet growing demand and, though it has an excellent track record of succeeding in such circumstances, that task is becoming increasingly difficult. Further savings initiatives will be explored over the coming months through the social services budget programme when the budget position is clearer.”

Former Vale Plaid Cymru councillor Chris Franks, now a Dinas Powys community councillor, said constituents would feel let down by the overspend.

“The Conservatives have been in control of the Vale council less than six months but have already run up a huge deficit in social services,” said Mr Franks.

“Residents hoping for good financial management will be disappointed by their new Tory council.”