THE council is forecasting an overspend of £3.47 million and admits some savings may have to be met a year later than anticipated.

In March the council approved a budget for 2015-16 of £140.1 million, which included more than £15.53 million worth of savings.

In his budget monitoring report for quarter one of the current financial year Cllr Russ Bowden, who is in charge of the council's budget, forecast a savings shortfall of £3.41 million, with 'savings via other means' set to reach £2.89 million.

Cllr Bowden (LAB – Birchwood) said the £3.47 million overspend is 'mainly as a result of non-achievement' of savings proposals and additional demand for priority services.

He added: "The overspends within directorates are being offset by an underspend on the innovative ways the council is generating income.

"This is going someway to enabling the protection of the severity of cuts to frontline services.

"A cautious assumption is made for increases in demand and expenditure arising from winter pressures and attempts are made as the year progresses to contain these within budgets."

The directorate is forecasting a £2.61 million overspend for quarter one in the families and wellbeing area, with £1.9 million to go towards children's external agency placements.

It is also predicted that an overspend of £2.8 million will take place following funding for economic growth, regeneration and environment.

The main areas for this overspend concerns the authority's waste strategy, totalling almost £980,000 and street lighting, totalling £80,000.

Full savings for both are anticipated to be achieved in 2016-17.

Cllr Bowden has taken a 'pragmatic' approach with directors to report the forecast and is confident, where possible, the demand for services will be reduced as part of the council's commitment to making improvements.

"At the end of the first quarter of the current financial year we predicted an overspend against budget," he added.

"This reflects the position in the previous four years and we did go on to meet the targets by the end of each year.

"With further Government cuts expected, we will continue to work on Growing a Strong Warrington, as this is the only way that Warrington can become self-sufficient and not need to rely on central Government funding.

"We are committed to continuing to identify innovative ways of delivering services, like the joint WWiSH fostering and adoption service with St Helens and Wigan and the transfer of leisure, wellbeing and culture to LiveWire and Culture Warrington as community interest companies."