WORK is under way to bring 19 children and young people back to the Borders from out-of-area residential placements amid financial pressures.

An additional £1.2 million has been provided by Scottish Borders Council across April, May and June to cover costs of external placements.

That figure is described as representing the “most significant service pressure” in a report published ahead of next week’s executive committee meeting.

It is part of a £3m hole in the local authority’s budget which contributes to a “significant risk” posed to its ability to balance its 2024/25 books.

“Forecasts have been completed at the first quarter of 2024/25 at June 30, 2024, projecting overall pressures within the council of £3m,” the paper penned by Lizzie Turner, chief officer of finance and procurement, states.

“The most significant service pressure of £1.2m relates to the external placement costs of children in education and children’s services. £1.1m relates to additional forecast costs in adult services due to anticipated increased agency and overtime costs in response to increased demand for care packages for older people and ongoing work to address delayed discharge in the NHS.

“An additional £0.6m of IT pressures caused by ongoing increased use of computer storage platforms until cloud storage is implemented is being reported.”

It adds: “The £3m pressure poses a significant risk to the council’s ability to balance the 2024/25 budget and does not include potential further pressures identified across the council amounting to £7.7m.”

The near-£8m possible outlays include the cost of additional needs assistants in schools, extra school transport costs and further pressures being forecast in Live Borders.

The report continues: “This brings the total potential pressures identified to £10.7m.

“Mitigating actions are being enacted to offset these pressures, however, failure to mitigate them completely will cause further budgetary pressures during the remainder of the year.”

The council said it was working to find “appropriate care” in the Borders for the 19 youngsters.

A freeze on discretionary spending for the remainder of the financial year is being recommended to help contain cash pressures.