This was an increase on the £602 million borrowing debt recorded at the end of the 2024/25 financial year. The report stated: “Nationally, although the amount of funding provided through the high needs block has increased significantly in recent years, by over 30 per cent since 2020, spend has increased at a higher rate. Cllr John Graham (Conservative) asked if the £83m high needs deficit was included within the council’s borrowing debt and was told that it was. Cllr John Hale (Lib Dem), chairman of the committee, said members will receive a risk focus report later this year. He added: “One of the risks I’ve identified as something we should be looking at is financial pressures.