The Children's Trust Joint Committee met on Wednesday 22 April 2026 to discuss the financial position of the Northamptonshire Children's Trust for the 2025-2026 financial year. The committee noted a significant forecast outturn pressure of £27.537 million, primarily driven by increased demand and costs in placements, particularly residential, secure, and baby and parent assessments. The committee unanimously agreed to note this forecast outturn position and the resulting pressures on both councils.

Northamptonshire Children's Trust 2025-2026 Forecast Position and Savings

The committee received an update on the Northamptonshire Children's Trust's financial forecast for the 2025-2026 period, based on Period 11 forecasts as of the end of February 2026. The agreed contract sum for the year was £185,651,000, which, with approved change controls, rose to just over £191 million. However, the Trust is now forecasting an outturn of £213 million, resulting in a net pressure to the councils of over £27 million.

The primary drivers for this pressure are identified as rising demand and costs within placements, specifically residential, secure, and baby and parent assessments. Other contributing factors include additional care packages and staffing costs. These challenges are recognised as reflecting a wider national trend within children's services, including market fragility and a lack of sufficient placement availability, and are not unique to Northamptonshire.

The Trust had a savings programme of £12.2 million for the year. As of Period 11, just over £7 million of these savings had been delivered. However, several key savings, particularly those linked to joint transformation activities such as early health, care leaver accommodation, and enhanced fostering, are now categorised as red and are unlikely to be achieved within the current financial year.

The recommendation before the committee was to note the forecast outturn position and the resulting pressures on both councils to maintain appropriate financial oversight of the Trust's commissioning arrangements.

Councillor Graham Cheatley highlighted the difficult financial position and the sharp rise in the cost of caring for vulnerable children. He asked for an explanation of the mitigations being put in place. Claire Edwards explained that mitigations would involve working with the Trust on transformation programmes, specifically T20 programmes for North and West Northamptonshire, and ensuring collaborative arrangements through the budget board process. This would involve a detailed, data-driven conversation to understand the drivers behind the demand pressures.

Councillor Mark Arnull acknowledged the report and the forecast outturn, noting that these pressures would continue into the current financial year, particularly with rises in remand care. He emphasised that many of these pressures were beyond the control of the council members and the public.

Councillor Martin Griffiths reiterated the commitment to the young people of Northamptonshire, predating the creation of the Children's Trust in November 2020. He acknowledged that while the Trust received a good Ofsted rating in 2022, more work was needed financially. He stressed the importance of the T20 priorities for North Northamptonshire and his commitment as a corporate parent.

Councillor Elizabeth Wright echoed the commitment to the safety and development of young people across Northamptonshire and complimented the officers on their readiness for upcoming inspections.

The committee unanimously resolved to note the forecast outturn position and the financial pressures.