Two City of York Council departments are facing potential overspends totalling £377,000 on the first five months of the financial year.

The news comes just days after the Evening Press revealed that housing chiefs have overspent by nearly £337,000 on repairs to council homes.

The authority's leisure and heritage department faces a estimated overspend of £190,000, while that for the planning, transport and environment budget is £187,000.

A report on the leisure budget situation says to offset the overspend officers have identified additional income, savings and other action totalling £100,000, but adds: "This leaves a projected net overspend for the year of £90,000 above the current approved budget.

"Officers will attempt to manage this predicted overspend between now and the end of the financial year by identifying further savings which can be made, but it should be recognised that at this stage in the financial year it may be difficult to deal with a projected overspend of this size."

The acting director of leisure services, Charlie Croft, said: "We are working on a whole range of budget heads to make sure we don't overspend any more than is necessary."

But he added: "There won't be an impact on front-line services."

Posts may be left vacant, but they would not be ones dealing directly with the public, and there would be no increases in charges this financial year as a result. They would also have to look at areas of discretionary spending.

A report on the planning, transport and environment situation says the spend is likely to be less than the current projection of £187,000, but adds: "Immediate action to freeze budgets in some areas has already been taken and other short-term measures are being put into place."

But Roy Templeman, director of environmental and development services, said the overspend was a very small percentage of his overall budget, and some areas of overspend could swing back during the year.

They would minimise the impact of any savings on the public.

Council leader Coun Rod Hills said: "Don't panic, because it's only part way through the year, and steps are being taken to get the budgets back on course. We have a net budget of £130 million - there are always going to be ups and downs, some over, some under.

"Where it's very significant - and they are quite large sums of money - we are taking steps to bring things back."

On leisure the overspending includes £59,000 on the Barbican Leisure Centre, partly due to an appeal over its rateable value bringing in less of a saving than expected, and a shortfall of £49,000 on City Art Gallery admissions and shop income.

There are also overspends on £40,000 each on planning control, the council's crematorium, and its recycling service, and another of £30,000 on work in the city centre.