Councils name children's services as biggest financial pressure

The Local Government Information Unit (LGIU)'s State of Local Government Finance 2020 report warns that councils will no longer be able to “shield” children from funding cuts and pressures on services.

More than a third (36 per cent) of councils surveyed named children’s services as their top immediate pressure.

“Over the last few years we have seen children’s services and education cement its place at the top of the list of immediate pressures, ahead of adult social care which remains a significant long-term pressure,” states the LGIU report.

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“Given that adult social care is still under immense pressure and the government has not yet delivered a sustainable funding system for it, rather than adult social care becoming a less urgent issue this suggests that councils are no longer able to shield children from the worst of the budgetary pressures.”

Pressure due to funding cuts means councils fear they will face a growing number of legal challenges, as they struggle to carry out their statutory duties.

One in seven councils (14 per cent) said they expect more judicial challenges, with children’s services among the areas where they predict the most legal action.

This includes social care, special educational needs and disability provision, and school transport.

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services has called for the government to ensure its March Budget takes into account pressures on children’s services and invests in early support for families.

“Many of the messages in this report are not new,” said ADCS resources and sustainability policy committee chair Matt Dunkley.

“Children’s services, along with wider local government services, face significant financial pressures which must be addressed and what we need now is sensible action from the Treasury.

“Small, time-limited pots of funding for some local authorities over others and one-off cash injections are no replacement for sustainable funding for all. 'Make do and mend' is not good enough for our children and young people.”

He added: “Local authorities up and down the country are having to make counterintuitive decisions like cutting the very services we know reduce future demand and, crucially, improve the life chances of children and their families.

“This will cost the public purse more in the long run. It’s surely time for a Budget with children, families and preventative services at its heart.”