Stockport’s Lead Member for Children and Families has joined more than twenty Local Government Leads in calling upon the Chancellor to address the crisis in Children’s services.
Cllr Colin Foster joined regional figureheads in sending a cross-party letter to Phillip Hammond, pointing to the emerging crisis and asking for a sustainable funding solution to be found.
Signatories include Cabinet members for Children’s Social Care from Blackpool, Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen, Bury, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cumbria, Halton, Knowsley, Lancashire, Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Sefton, St Helens, Stockport, Tameside, Warrington and Wirral.
The Local Government Association estimates that Looked After Children alone face a funding gap of over £2bn by 2020. Nowhere is the problem more evident that in the North West, where there are now more than 13,000 Looked After Children, a rise of 12% since 2013, double the 6% rise in the rest of the country and the highest figure in twenty years.
In Stockport, the rise in demand has been even more significant, with the number of Looked After Children having increased by 21% over just two years.
In response, Stockport’s Labour leadership have prioritised funding this service area, injecting over £6million over this and the previous budget – however a proper mechanism for funding directed at areas of most demand is still needed.
Cllr Colin Foster, Cabinet member for Children and Families at Stockport Council explained:
“The number of Looked After Children has seen an exceptional rise in Stockport over recent years, as part of a regional picture where we are seeing record numbers- as the effects of Austerity mean more families require more help.
“Meanwhile, the resources Government provides Councils for Children’s Services have been reduced.
“The evidence suggests that properly funded and proactive early interventions can represent one of the best uses of taxpayer money. This is because this can help place these young people on the right track to achieve their potential, interrupt negative cycles before they begin, and prevent further burdens upon services down the line- including costly care placements which can damage life chances.
“We are calling on the Government to address this emerging crisis now while as it has a key opportunity to do so as the Finance Bill progresses through Parliament.
“Our message is that action is needed, the Chancellor has the opportunity right now, and not acting represents a false economy at the expense of the most vulnerable in society.
“As such, I am a proud signatory to this letter, to which I hope the Government responds positively.”