Kingston Council is grappling with a £7.54 million overspend in its schools budget, leading to a cumulative Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit of £8.26 million. The overspend was revealed at a Corporate and Resources Committee meeting on Thursday, 26 June 2025.
The primary driver of the deficit is the escalating costs of High Needs Education Services, where demand continues to outstrip available funding. The council has been working to implement actions outlined in the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Futures Plan and has been able to claim the remaining £1.59 million in Safety Valve Funding this year.
The Revenue and Capital Outturn Report 202425.pdf also highlighted overspends in other directorates, including Adult Social Care & Health (£2.66m), Place (£5.59m), and Children's Services (£3.07m). These overspends were partially offset by underspends in Residents & Communities (£0.57m) and Chief Executives (£0.18m).
The Place directorate's overspend is largely attributed to the housing crisis, with the council relying more on nightly paid accommodation. As at March 2025, 520 households were housed in nightly paid accommodation, compared to 425 in March 2024.
Other items discussed at the meeting included the Council Plan - End of Year Report 2024/25.pdf, which summarised progress against the council's priorities, and motions concerning social media use and national insurance increases. An urgent decision was also reported regarding Google Workspace licences and associated professional services, with a contract awarded to XMA Limited valued at £4.5m.