Funding children’s services
Matt Dunkley, Chair of the ADCS Resources & Sustainability Policy Committee, said:
“This analysis by colleagues in the north east sets out in clear terms the position we are in. Local government funding has fallen by half over the last decade yet more and more people both young and old need our help, support and protection. We are absolutely committed to keeping children and young people safe from harm and bridging the gap between the funding received from central government. The costs of delivering these critical services locally is increasingly being met from reserves or by diverting money away from other valued services, such as children’s centres, youth services and libraries, which form part of a vital safety net. It’s a vicious circle.
“That local authorities up and down the country are overspending on children’s services, including social care and special educational needs services, should be ringing alarm bells in Whitehall. We urgently need an equitable, sustainable funding strategy for children’s services and indeed all of local government, not more small, time limited pots of funding or one-off injections of cash. Failure to invest in children’s futures is a false economy and is only storing up greater human and financial costs. It’s time for change, starting with the forthcoming budget.”
ENDS
Related Articles
ADCS response to CMA interim report on children’s social care market study
In General Funding
“The greatest opportunity to make a tangible difference to a child’s life is...
In General Funding
Comment on the results of a survey on local government finance :
In General Funding
Commenting on the Chancellor’s statement, ADCS President Steve Crocker said
In General Funding
Earlier this month, The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Select...
In General Funding
In December, the government published its provisional local government finance...
In General Funding
Commenting on council budget deficits, ADCS Vice President Steve Crocker said:
In General Funding
Chris Munday, Chair of the ADCS Resources and Sustainability Policy Committee,...
In General Funding
Comment on the Resolution Foundation’s analysis of expected cuts to...
In General Funding
Responding to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Spring Budget announcement Jenny...