BUDGET pressures on BCP Council caused by the coronavirus pandemic have grown since June to a forecast £57.3 million.

Increasing costs in children’s social care, leisure centres and the re-opening of its facilities post-lockdown have increased the estimated financial impact by £5 million this year.

But council leader Drew Mellor said he was “confident” the funding gap would be closed through the continuation of work to merge services and government grants.

A budget report in June showed the council would have a predicted £52.3 million deficit as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

This was “partially offset” by government funding announced in early July but also saw the previous Unity Alliance put its projects planned for this financial year on hold.

An updated report will be considered by the new Conservative cabinet next month in which the forecast impact of the council’s coronavirus response has risen to £57.3 million.

It says this is expected to be filled through government grants and the ongoing work to merge the council’s services while increased homeworking by its employees have also reduced costs.

Despite this, further savings of £13.4 million are still forecast to be required in 2021/22, this figure has reduced from an original £49 million sum.

The report says the increased pressures are mainly due to the “significantly increased” cost of placements for children requiring them and “significant support” it has given to leisure providers, including BH Live which has increased costs by £2.8 million.

“Despite a total impact of £57.3million at this time, I am pleased we are able to predict a balanced budget at the end of this financial year,” Cllr Mellor, who as well as leader is responsible for the council’s finances, said.

“This is testament to the extremely hard work of officers as well as a welcomed total contribution from government estimated at £37.3million so far.

“I remain confident that we can meet this challenge head on whilst retaining ambition for investment in the council’s priorities.”

He added that later this year a new report outlining plans to further speed up the council’s “transformation programme” – its work to complete the merger of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole councils last year – would be published.

The report was written before last week’s confirmation that the council would receive a further £3.9 million in financial assistance from the government.