Council acts on early warning signs as budget forecasts indicate £7.8m overspend

The 2026-27 budget was set by the council’s previous administration in February 2026. Cabinet Papers published today confirm that the council is currently forecasting a £7.8m overspend if spending is to continue as it has done, by the end of this financial year.

Now the council has issued a directive to its senior staff to take necessary measures to mitigate expenditure to reduce the forecast overspend.

Cllr Armstrong continues: “We are instructing staff to go further and faster to identify savings and reduce the forecast overspend.

“Every pound of taxpayers’ money should be spent as if it were our own. That means slashing waste, challenging every pound we spend, getting better deals from suppliers and focusing resources on the frontline services that make the biggest difference to people’s lives.

“We are a council focused on getting things done, putting Suffolk communities first and delivering better value for taxpayers.”

The report will be discussed at the council’s Cabinet meeting next Thursday. Cabinet papers can be viewed at suffolk.gov.uk.