SOME of the measures being taken to bring overspending Medway Council back on budget will have to end, the council's finance chief has warned.

The council can only stop recruiting staff and banning purchases for a limited period, said finance portfolio holder Cllr Alan Jarrett.

Currently, Medway has cut a forecast £6million overspend, but they still have to save £3.6million to balance the books at the end of March.

The crisis follows unplanned expenditure on social care and in children's services. These are areas where the council has repeatedly had problems staying within budget.

"We need to identify substantial savings to set the budget for next year," Cllr Jarrett warned. "We face difficult decisions, but we must make them just to tread water.

"The Government is making no attempt to address key areas of pressure,” said Cllr Jarrett. “It continues to consider that one size fits all, yet there are plenty of cash-rich profligate authorities."

* See Friday's Medway Messenger for the full story.