Hampshire County Council's financial troubles 'not of our doing' says council leader

Hampshire County Council is facing an unprecedented budget shortfall of £200m by 2025/26, coming after £80m was slashed from the budget this year.

But with government funding continuing to fall, council officers and even leading Conservatives say Westminster is to blame for its troubles.

At yesterday's cabinet meeting Rob Carr, director of corporate operations, said: ‘We have a bit of a perfect storm at the moment, with rising costs in social care, hyper-inflation and reduced funding from central government.

‘That £200m deficit figure has been calculated before the impact of the imminent social care reforms too - it’s a situation that’s out of our hands.

‘We are considering whether we are actually able to close the financial gap, and what the government can do to help. We are lobbying MPs and I am having discussions with government officials about the position we are in.’

A report provided to the cabinet outlined concerns that adult health and social care costs are increasing ‘at a faster rate’ than central government can provide funding for.