Wiltshire council blames adult social care services for overspend
The council had a £4.8 million deficit in its 2024/25 financial position.
Last updated 27th Jun 2025
Wiltshire Council has released more details of departmental overspend, which led to a shock £4.8 million deficit in its 2024/25 financial position.
The council identified an overspend within adult social care services, which it says has been caused by “by historic reporting challenges, the complexity of care packages, and rising costs associated with the National Living Wage and National Insurance contributions.”
The council says it “acknowledges that historic issues in reporting clear and accurate data have contributed to the current position.
“These issues are now being actively addressed, with additional resources allocated to improve data accuracy, strengthen internal processes, and ensure robust financial scrutiny,” it said.
At a recent extraordinary cabinet meeting, a reported £6 million change in forecasting between Q3 and Q4 specifically related to adult social care only, not the overall council budget.
The council said the £6 million variance in adult social care between Q3 and Q4 “is fully accounted for and reflects updated and improved financial reporting.”
The council’s final outturn includes a range of overspends and underspends across different services, resulting in a total overspend of £4.853 million.
The council was forced to take money from reserves to cover the shortfall, as it is legally obliged to balance the books at the end of the year.
The council said a comprehensive review is underway to ensure that future projections are based on reliable data.
“Wiltshire Council remains focused on delivering high-quality care to its residents while ensuring financial sustainability,” it said.
“The steps being taken now will help build a more resilient and responsive adult social care system for the future.”