BLAENAU Gwent council has warned it will have to make "harsh decisions" after overspending by £1.2 million over the last few months.

The council has particularly over spent in social services, regeneration, and environment and community safety, between April and September this year.

Blaenau Gwent said extending spending to this level, a total £1,269,635, is not sustainable.

Its social services department has had particularly large outgoings in the care of children - overspending by £159,445 for placements in children's homes and fostering and £465,394 in caring for adults aged under 65 with learning disabilities mainly because of costs involved with residential home placements and direct payments.

Regeneration had an overspend of £385,190 which includes higher than expected costs from nursery premises such as rates and street lighting.

The education portfolio had an overspend of £272,027 which included increases in the cost of home to school transport.

The council has also overspent in its environment and community safety budget by £323,727 which includes £46,567 mainly from one-off redundancy costs and £187,634 in waste disposal and £93,794 in housing benefit.

There was also an overspend of £72,961 for the air monitoring of asbestos in Brynmawr's Central Depot.

The council said asbestos containing material has been found in the building's garage, vehicle bay and stores but that there is currently no harmful levels of asbestos fibres.

The council said the air monitoring regime currently costs less than £1,500 per week but is looking at other options for the future.

Blaenau Gwent said it has already tried to limit spending in some areas for the second half of the financial year by putting a freeze on recruitment and limiting overtime, training, travelling and supplies and services and has put together action plans.

It will now have to use £650,000 set aside in council reserves to help with the pressures in social services.

The council's executive member for social services, councillor Anita Hobbs, said the authority has an "ageing population with complex needs".

She said: "We are not the only authority in this volatile situation in this financial year. "I need to reiterate to members to be prepared for harsh decisions to be taken to bring the budget in line."

Council leader Hedley McCarthy said: "The measures we have put in place to limit spending demonstrate our ongoing commitment to delivering key services amid very challenging financial circumstances. The council remains determined to provide best value for our constituents and we will continue to monitor spending and will take appropriate decisions where necessary, to achieve a balanced budget."