CHILDREN'S SERVICES BUDGET SET TO PRIORITISE LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

CHILDREN'S SERVICES BUDGET SET TO PRIORITISE LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN

January 19, 2010 12:00 AM

Proposals for how City of York Council's Children & Young People's Services will be funded have been published today ahead of them being considered next week by Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Children and Young People's Services, Councillor Carol Runciman.

The 2010/11 budget proposals focus on ensuring the service is able manage the financial pressures of the increasing number of children coming into the care of the local authority.

The number of children coming into the care of City of York Council is continuing to increase, in March 2008 there were 166 children in the council's care, by December 2009 the number had risen to 225.

Councillor Runciman said, "Local Authorities across the country are experiencing similar increases in the number of children coming into care. This is partly due to increased awareness following the publicity surrounding the Baby Peter case and also due to young people staying with their foster carers longer as they continue on to college and university."

"Clearly increase puts a strain on the finances of the department but we take our responsibility to look after vulnerable children very seriously and it is not something that we are willing to compromise because of the cost."

Councillor Runciman said the budget would include an additional £1.5m of investment into foster caring which would cover the increasing number of looked after children and would include a proposal to raise the allowances of foster carers.

She said, "Foster carers are vital in helping us to provide top quality care for the children who need it most. While budgets are extremely tight I think this is the right place for an investment."

The budget also includes a number of other proposals including:

· An additional £4.3m for the city's schools

· An additional £270,000 invested in the city's popular Children's Centres

· Front line services maintained by limiting expenditure on back office functions.

The budget proposals will be considered by Councillor Runciman at an Executive Member Decision Session on 25th January.

The Executive will then approve its final budget proposals at a meeting on 16th February before the proposals go to Full Council on 25th February.