COUNCILLOR MEETS TO DISCUSS CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERVICES BUDGET (York Liberal Democrats)

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

COUNCILLOR MEETS TO DISCUSS CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERVICES BUDGET

January 25, 2010 12:00 AM

Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Children and Young People's Services, Councillor Carl Runciman today met to consider proposals for the Children and Young People's 2010/11 budget at an Executive Member Decision Session.

Councillor Runciman said the Executive Member Decision Session was an opportunity to publicly examine the officer recommendations and discuss alternatives before referring the recommendations on to the Council's Executive.

She said, "The budget for 2010/2011, coming as it does in a worldwide recession and at a time of great financial stringency for both national and local government, will be one of tough decisions. Today's decision session provided an opportunity to explore the officer's recommendations and test some of the thinking behind these tough decisions."

Councillor Runciman said she had been contacted by a large number of people concerned about the possibility of the Council ceasing to fund the Arts Consultants Service. Councillor Runciman said she had asked officers to discuss the possibility of schools funding the service from their own budgets.

She said, "This year the schools received more than £4m in additional funding from the government. We are currently exploring the possibility that they could buy in the services provided by the Arts Consultants Service from their own budgets."

Councillor Runciman said the need to find savings in the budget came from the increased number children coming into the care of the Council. She said, "This is a significant challenge at present, made even more difficult by the continuing concerns around the safety of children across the country since the sad case of Baby Peter."

"Almost every local authority has had extra pressures placed upon the budget as the numbers of children coming into care has increased. York is no exception, and I am pleased to confirm that this administration takes its responsibilities seriously in this area and will be investing a further £1.5m into the budget for Children's Social Care."

"This is not only to cover the costs of care, but also the associated court costs as well as the costs of ensuring that children remain in safe contact with their parents and other family members. This group of children have no voice in the public arena; they are often very young, very vulnerable and have been hurt by circumstances completely beyond their control. It is our duty to care for them as well as we can."

Figures published last week showed that between April and December 2009 there were 46% more care applications nationally than during the same period last year.

Estimates from the LGA suggest that the legal cost of the additional care applications for local authorities would be £39m, with the additional cost of looking after the children put at approximately £187m.

Councillor Runciman said that the representations made at the meeting would be taken into account when the Executive met to make its final budget recommendations.

She said, "I can assure all those that I have spoken to about this issue that I have been listening carefully. I am firmly committed to the arts and always have been but I am very aware that the council's responsibilities to the children already in our care must take priority. However, all that has been said will be taken to the Executive for consideration when they are considering the final budget proposals."