But this could be just the beginning of the upheavals. A localgovernment white paper due in the summer is expected to propose therestructuring of two-tier areas to create unitary authorities wherethere are now county and district councils, potentially involving afurther loss of common boundaries between agencies. Another proposal isthe devolution of responsibility for many services from councils toneighbourhoods.
The proposals have been criticised for their perceived potential tofragment service commissioning, weaken joint agency arrangements anddrive up costs. Sure Start is a good example of neighbourhood-levelservice delivery, but the implications of neighbourhood devolution forchildren's trusts and the rapid rollout of children's centres andextended schools are by no means clear.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
