The county council is already predicted to bust its budget by more than £1 million this financial year as the children’s services struggle to cope with increased demand.

“Significant pressures” faced by Bucks County Council (BCC) means the authority is currently expected to overspend by £1.2 million by the end of March 2019.

In May the council announced children’s services are at “tipping point”, and figures set to be presented to cabinet on Monday show that the failing service has now overspent by £1.95 million.

A rise in the number of looked-after children in Bucks and more complex cases are among the “key pressures” faced by county council chiefs as they attempt to balance the finances.

An increase in the number of complex court cases means the legal budget within the children’s services is set to be overspent by £700,000, according to BCC’s finance monitoring report.

However service improvements, including the introduction of a central court team, are hoped to reducing spending in that area.

A £2.76 million underspend within corporate costs is expected to partially plug the funding gap, while council services have been asked to review their budgets in a bid to make savings.

Nationally, council budgets are becoming increasingly stretched in the face of government cuts, while 66 per cent of authorities with children’s services were forced to dip into reserves in 2016/17.

The report, which reviewed the council’s finances for the first quarter of 2018/19, stated: “Cabinet received a report on the 21st May 2018 around the financial sustainability of the council which recognised that the council has sufficient levels of reserves (allocated and unallocated) and high member involvement, including a strong regulatory & audit committee, exists.

“Nevertheless, the council is experiencing significant pressures on services which are impacting on the current budget position. “All portfolios forecasting an overspend are drawing up action plans to mitigate these pressures.

“In addition portfolios have been asked to carry out a detailed review of their budgets in order to identify actions to bring the overall council spend to within the approved budget.”

An increase in the number of young people with special educational needs (SEN) accessing home to school transport means the education and skills budget is also set to be overspent by £1.34 million.

However the BCC report stated the increase in demand was “expected”, as 100 additional SEN pupils over the age of 16 used the transport in 2017, which is expected to increase again this year.

To view the council report visit https://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/documents/s116863/Q1%20201819%20Finance%20Monitoring%20Report.pdf