The leader of the county council said he is determined to make sure the authority breaks even this year - after a £120,000 overspend was predicted.

Yesterday, Bucks County Council’s (BCC) cabinet discussed major overspends of £7.1 million across frontline services, as the financial year draws to a close.

Huge underspends within planning and environment departments means BCC is set to bust its budget by £120,000 at the end of March.

However, speaking during yesterday’s meeting, council leader, Martin Tett, said he is working with cabinet members to investigate where “economies can be made” to ensure the council comes in on budget.

He said: “The aspiration is by the end of the financial year is to come in at least to break even. I think everybody knows that.

“I’m scrutinising on a one-to-one basis on each of the individual portfolios to see where economies can be made, and I am going to try very hard to make sure we come in on budget.

“I think that’s only right in the interest of council taxpayers.”

Cabinet member for resources, John Chilver, said the potential £120,000 overspend is an improvement on the £200,000 figure predicted earlier on in the financial year.

Cllr Chilver said: “At the end of quarter three the forecast revenue position was a slight overspend of £120,000 by the end of the year which is an improvement of the quarter two overspend of £200,000.

“This improved forecast reflects the success of our budget management actions put in place earlier during the year.”

BCC’s children’s services is facing the biggest overspend of £4.95 million this financial year due to a rise in the number of children entering care as well the increasing complexity of cases.

However, cabinet member for children’s services, Warren Whyte, said the number of young people going into care has “steadied” thanks to the “very hard work” of social work management teams.