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Rotherham Council budget 'on its knees' with CSE pressures

1 min read Social Care
The investigation into historical child sexual exploitation (CSE) has hit Rotherham Council with "unprecedented and unbudgeted" extra costs of £4.3m a year, set to rise to £7m next year, the town's MP has warned.

The National Crime Agency's Operation Stovewood, which is the UK's biggest investigation into child sexual exploitation, is looking at exploitation and abuse in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

But in a parliamentary debate the Yorkshire town's MP Sarah Champion said the council is receiving only £500,000 per annum in extra government funding to help ease the burden.

Children's minister Nadhim Zahawi told yesterday's House of Commons adjournment debate, that the request for extra funds was being considered as part of the government's next spending review, and listed various funding boosts which had already been allocated.

In an impassioned reply, Champion told MPs: "He mentions the half a million a year for four years.

"That will fund 10 looked-after children placements.

"Please, will he just tell me is he going to give us additional funding because we are on our knees in Rotherham and we are begging you for support."

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