An insight has been given into how much Bracknell Forest Council spends on helping the young people it supports mature into adulthood.
The council has a statutory duty to safeguard and look after children and organise care for adults with disabilities.
Providing social care is one of the council’s biggest expenses.
For the first time in years, the council will receive a multi-year funding settlement from the Labour government.
Over a three year period, the council will receive £900 million of grant funding to provide adult social care services.
Of that, £150 million will be provided in 2026/27, £250 million in 2027/28, and £500 million in 2028/29).
Separately, the council will receive £866 million for children’s social care reform over the three years, with £330 million provided in 2026/27, £330 million in 2027/28, and £206 million in 2028/29.
Management of how this money will be spent is a main feature of conversation ahead of the council’s budget setting for 2026/27, the upcoming financial year.
The council will be assisting with the transition of 65 people from children’s care to adult care services for those who may require it.
As adults aged 18, these people may refuse social services involvement in their lives if they have the capacity to do so.
The issue of the transition from childcare to adult social care services was discussed at a meeting of the council’s overview & scrutiny commission.
Councillor Megan Wright (Labour, Town Centre & The Parks), the cabinet member for adults and public health, explained: “It’s quite hard to know how many of those are going to require services as an adult.
“Some of them might stay on an education provision, some of them might refuse services if they have the capacity to refuse them.
“So you’ve got this very uncertain environment.
“Out of the 65 children, they [the council’s social services department] estimate that 60 per cent of them will require services in adulthood.
“We also have the issue that some children transitioning last year those costs aren’t coming through until this year. We’ve got 14 children in that situation.
“So this coming financial year, compared to the previous financial year, we’re seeing an increase of 65 per cent for the number of children transitioning from children’s services to adult services.”
The transition from children’s to adult social care costs the council hundreds of thousands of pounds per year.
However, financial officers have actually revised down the projected spend in 2026/27, from £750,000 to £675,000 – a reduction of £75,000.
The amount spent varies depending on the level of care a person requires.
Cllr Wright explained: “The projected cost range of each of those individual children ranges from £110,000 per year to £555 per year.
“So it gives you an idea of what the different packages could be for those children.”
She went on to explain the demand risks to the council can be mitigated as a dedicated staff member has been appointed to manage transitions.
Cllr Wright’s answer came following a question from cllr Mike Forster (Liberal Democrats, Sandhurst) on how demand risks will be managed.
Labour cabinet members were grilled on the budget for 2026/27 at the meeting on Thursday, January 8.
You can respond to the council’s budget consultation, which closes on Tuesday, January 27 online.
