LGA lobbies for extra cash in light of Southwark Judgment

The House of Lords ruling in May 2009, made against Southwark Council, means that all homeless 16- and 17-year-olds must be offered care services under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989.

In the past, many of these young people were accommodated under housing legislation.

In a meeting with children’s minister Dawn Primarolo, Shireen Ritchie, chair of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, outlined how much the judgment could increase the cost of care to councils.

But Primarolo denied that the ruling represents a new burden on local authorities.

She reiterated the government’s claim that the Southwark Judgment simply clarifies the council’s existing duties.

The LGA now plans to raise the issue at the next Comprehensive Spending Review and is to work on producing further evidence to show the cost implications of the judgment.

Ritchie told CYP Now that the government should assess the additional costs facing local authorities before dismissing the possibility of providing extra cash to councils.

"Councils accept the responsibility they have for looking after homeless young people. The concern is that there will be a huge increase in the numbers of young people needing care, which would incur additional costs," she explained.

Last year, London Councils estimated that the additional cost to children’s services would be between £10,000 and £35,000 a year for every additional looked-after young person, which could equate to £2.4m annually for some local authorities.