Childrens’ services are ‘at risk’

SERVICES to protect the most vulnerable, ‘at risk’ and missing children could face further cuts under Stockport council budget plans.

If agreed, more than £1m will be slashed of an already over-stretched children’s services budget that overspent by £4.5m last year.

The proposals are part of the council’s financial strategy to cut £16m from its 2019/20 budget. That figure will rise to £47m by 2022.

Children and family services chief Coun Colin Foster warned the cuts would impact some services. He said: “There is a proposal to evaluate the sector and take £1.1m out of the budget.

“There are some areas where efficiency savings can be made, however, this could lead to reductions in the level or quality of services we deliver.

“However, what will come from that is the creation of the Stockport family education service.”

In June, Coun Foster blamed the spiralling cost of child residential accommodation for the £4.5m overspend.

He said the amount of looked-after children in the borough had risen by 23pc in 2017/18, while the number of youngsters on a protection plan had rocketed by 60pc.

The average weekly cost to home a child is around £2,500, but for children with more complex needs, that figure can rise as high as £7,000.