Council owed millions in overdue payments

Hertfordshire County Council is owed £58m in overdue payments whilst facing an overspend of £13.4m.

Invoices that are still unpaid after 9 months total £26.8m, whilst those 3-9 months overdue come in at £13.9m.

Much of the debt is owed by health partners and adult care providers.

At a meeting of the council's resources and performance cabinet panel on Friday 1st December, Councillor Tim Williams (LibDem, Woodside Stanborough) said: "This £42.5m debt owed that is over three months past its due date, I just feel there should be a bit more focus and attention with getting this £42m in to address the £3m deficit."

Head of corporate finance, Scott Walker, acknowledged that the figure owed was high and indicated that officers are working to recover the debts.

County Council budgets are currently forecasting an overspend of £13.4m against a budget of £1.070bn. This is before the use of a £10.0m contingency budget – reducing the overspend to £3.4m.

The overall school’s budget is forecasting an overspend of £1.2m for the financial year, with an overspend of £4.8m forecast forecast for educational support for children with special educational needs & disabilities (SEND).