‘Significant weaknesses’ in reducing overspends are threatening Bristol City Council’s financial sustainability, according to its external auditor.
In its annual report to the council, Grant Thornton said Bristol’s ‘inability to reduce overspends’ in social care and deliver savings ‘increases the risk that it may not be financially sustainable’.
Grant Thornton added the council’s reported overspend of £3m in 2022-23 ‘masks the fact that the gross service overspend is forecast at £57.9m’.
It said: ‘We are concerned that the council has had to rely upon reserves, and its priority should be to manage spending and deliver its planned savings. Failure to achieve this could increase the risk of unplanned use of reserves.’
Bristol said 2022-23 was an ‘unprecedented year’.
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