NCAS Conference: Children's services spending pressures to be investigated

The Local Government Association, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (Solace) and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) have joined forces to commission the study.

It will involve in-depth visits to up to 12 local authorities across England over the next couple of months to examine how spending decisions are arrived at and how these are matched to social needs.
 
The work comes in response to concerns raised by many children’s services leaders that local authority section 251 returns – which detail by service area how councils are spending money on services for children and young people – are not giving an accurate picture of budget pressures or local demand for services.
 
Former ADCS president and CYP Now contributor John Freeman will lead the study on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
 
Unveiling the plans at the National Children and Adults Services Conference, Freeman said: “Starting in November, there will be between 10 and 12 visits to local authorities around the country looking at the numbers and the policy that underpins these.
 
“We’re recognising that any statutory returns aren’t scratching the surface of what’s happening at a local authority.
 
“When anyone is asked whether section 251 is helpful, they say it is not fit for purpose. My preconception is there is a lot to be done with these statutory returns.”
 
Freeman added that the findings would be reported on in the New Year to help directors of children's services, lead members and councillors in general to make better spending decisions.