CYP Now - Children’s services pressures driving £6.2bn funding gap, LGA warns

Local authorities face a £6.2 billion funding gap over the next two years due in part to rising pressures on children’s services, new research from the Local Government Association (LGA) reveals.

Demand on children's services is increasing cost pressures, council leaders say. Picture: Adobe Stock

A new White Paper from the LGA, published ahead of the 4 July general election, states that the funding gap “is being driven by rising cost and demand pressures to provide adult social care, children's services, homelessness support and home-to-school transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)”.

These pressures are leaving councils unable to fulfil basic duties including tackling anti-social behaviour and keeping streets clean, council bosses warn.

A recent LGA survey found that two-thirds of councils have already had to make cutbacks to local neighbourhood services this year including waste collections, road repairs, library and leisure services in a bid to plug funding gaps.

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