Lancashire County Council debates drastic cut to children's services budget

Lancashire County Council’s cabinet members will vote on plans to implement £22m worth of cuts, including the reductions in children’s services.

Under the proposals, the teenage pregnancy services budget will be cut by £50,000, Connexions by £300,000 and the council hopes that £400,000 can be saved through a review of children home staffing.

Child and parent support will be cut by £200,000 and young people’s services will also see cuts, with savings of £150,000 through restructuring and cutting jobs.

Council leader councillor Geoff Driver said: "We have asked managers to find ways of protecting services by saving money from non-frontline activities. But there is no escaping the fact Lancashire has to contribute to relieving the huge burden on public finances nationally.

"I am very clear that I will do my absolute utmost to protect services for the most vulnerable in the county."

He added that it was unclear how many jobs across the council will be cut. "The effect on individual employees will be minimised by choosing not to fill some vacancies and using natural turnover, such as retirement," he said.