Government statistics on planned council expenditure in 2018-19

Matt Dunkley, Chair of the ADCS Resources & Sustainability Policy Committee said:

“The fact that local authorities are choosing to divert funding away from their other services to prop up children’s services in the face of a huge increase in demand, should send out a warning shot across the sector. We are facing an unprecedented surge in demand for some of our most expensive child protection services while at the same time we are having to cut the very services that we know reduce that demand. The burden of austerity has fallen largely on children and families, as is evidenced by the growth in child poverty and demand for our services. Although we welcome the increased spend by councils on children’s services, this is still not enough to keep pace with the rising cost of demand, and is still only 9% of planned council spend overall. This does not represent a long term solution. We urge government to take action by plugging the funding gap of at least £2 billion expected in children’s services by 2020 and to help us to turn the tide of demand for statutory services.”

ENDS

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