BLAENAU Gwent council has been warned by its own finance officer that their current levels of overspending are ‘unsustainable’ and that they need to agree to savings of £4.1 million this month.

Cllr Nigel Daniels said the report showed the council’s "exceptional and horrendous financial circumstances."

In a report presented to yesterday’s special corporate overview committee, chief financial office David McAuliffe laid out the council’s current financial issues, and said at least £4.1 million needs to be saved in order to balance the 2014/15 budget.

The report stated: "Many of the ongoing cost pressures will continue into 2013/14 and beyond, totaling at least £3.5m unless action is take now. Community care is the single biggest cost pressure.

"Significant mitigating savings will need to be identified in 2013/14 to ensure that new cost pressures do not turn into adverse variances."

It continued: "The crucial time for identifying and agreeing savings of at least £4.1m will be between April 2013 and July 2013."

The report added the council needs to start planning now for the 2014/15 budget.

Ongoing overspend cost pressures include community care, waste disposal, street lighting, road maintenance and home to school and college transport, which total at least £3.5 million.

Members of the corporate overview committee voiced concerns about how the cuts will effect Blaenau Gwent residents.

Councillors also said they felt the report should have been heard by members of the decision making executive committee, and asked that they are informed as soon as possible as a matter of urgency in order to make decisions on the proposals.

A council spokeswoman said: "Given the current financial climate that the Council is facing, it is imperative that the approved savings plans are monitored, to ensure that the plans are implemented and achieving the agreed level of savings."