Most local authorities in England will tell you that theirGovernment-set targets for children's centres are "challenging". Andthey will highlight funding as one of their main concerns. But Londoncouncils have found themselves facing extra challenges, not leastbecause of the higher costs of building work in the capital.
While councils in other parts of England are forging ahead with phasetwo of the children's centre programme, which runs from 2006 to 2008'some London boroughs are still struggling with phase one. And there isgrowing concern that the children's centre programme in London is not oncourse.
Costs in the capital
Councils have identified rising building costs as an issue, with somereporting that tenders for capital projects are generally "much higherthan expected" due to the large amount of building work in London.Others have criticised the Government's approach to allocating cash,which they say fails to acknowledge London's higher costs.
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