THERE will be more money to provide care for Devon's vulnerable adults and children in the county council's target budget for 2025/26.

Recently-published figures show a proposed 8.2 per cent increase in the revenue budget for adult services with a 5.5 per cent rise in children's services and 3.4 per cent extra for climate change, environment and transport.

Reductions in other departmental spending means an overall rise of 5.9 per cent in the budget for next year with a total spend of over £784.1 million.

Devon's Cabinet will discuss the details in January with the full council set to debate the budget in February.

In a new report, Director of Finance, Angie Sinclair, says there has been a renewed drive across the council to cut costs.

But she adds: “The cost of inflation places sustained financial pressures both on our households and communities and our suppliers and service providers and contributes to the ongoing impact in terms of price and demand pressures on the authority’s budget.

"This is reflected in the proposed target budgets with total investment of £31.9 million to cover inflation and national living wage plus £33.8 million to cover demand and other spending pressures and priorities.

"To enable the authority to set a balanced budget, savings, alternative funding and additional income of £21.7 million have been identified.

"Overall, there is additional funding of £44 million or 5.9 per cent for services next year compared to the adjusted base budget."

She says there are no plans to raid the council's balances to boost spending.

Angie Sinclair will tell the cabinet that the target budget includes the loss of £10.1 million in government support to rural areas.

It means Devon has the lowest settlement increase of any of the 21 county councils.