BOURNEMOUTH council needs to find £10.5milllion worth of savings over the next three years in order to continue to balance its budget.

The figure was announced at a meeting of the council's cabinet earlier this week.

During the meeting it was also revealed how much the council would be receiving from the Government’s £2 billion fund for social care over the next three years.

Chancellor Philip Hammond announced the extra funding during his Spring Budget statement, saying the money would allow councils to commission more care packages.

In total Bournemouth Council is set to receive £7.5m from the fund - £3.8m in 2017/18, followed by £2.5m in 2018/19 and finally £1.2m in 2019/20.

However during Wednesday’s cabinet meeting the council’s chief financial officer Adam Richens warned members to be “cautious” about the promised funding.

He said: “The council has a £10.5million funding gap we need to fill over the next three years.

“But I warn members to exercise caution as this money from the Government is likely to come with strict conditions on how it is spent.”

However Mr Richens also stressed that “officers and members would continue to make sure the council’s budget is balanced or better”.

Leader of the council John Beesley also spoke to members about the difficulties facing the council financially.

Speaking at the meeting he said: “There are real budget pressures around the council.

“But for this council we always want to have a budget that is balanced or better but that is getting more difficult to achieve year by year.

“We need to wait for clarification on the funding from Government and how it will affect the council’s budget in the upcoming years.”

Deputy chief executive Jane Portman reiterated the “extraordinary demands” of adult social care on the budget.

She said: “This is the first time that I can remember that this particular service area has not come in balanced which is due to increasing demand and very high cost care packages.”

However she also tried to reassure members about the financial future of the council stating that in her 10 years at the council the budget has always been balanced.

She added: “I am determined that the budget will be balanced or better. All we have to do now is deliver it.”