The spiralling cost of social services is eating into the budgets of England’s largest councils to the extent that many will soon be forced to abandon “nice to have” functions such as arts and youth clubs and Sure Start centres.
Council leaders are concerned town halls are at risk of becoming “care authorities” focused primarily on the provision of care packages to an expanding number of at-risk children and frail adults at the expense of other services.
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Hundreds of English schools still at risk from crumbling concrete
Hundreds of schools in England are still at risk of collapse from crumbling concrete, according to previously unpublished figures. Official data, which the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
Thousands of young people placed in council care more than 20 miles away from home, analysis shows
A third of children in council care in 2023 lived over 20 miles away from their local area, school and family – around 4,600 people in total.
£600m boost for social care next year announced in Budget
Councils’ available spending to grow by an estimated 3.2% in real terms in 2025-26, with authorities also given £250m to test new approaches in children’s
