BBC investigation finds reduction in spend on legal services by councils, including on counsel for children's social care cases
A BBC investigation has found a reduction in spend on legal services by councils, including on counsel for children's social care cases, alongside cuts to social workers and safeguarding teams.
According to the analysis, local authorities are making £3bn in savings this financial year, but still face a funding shortfall of more than £5.7bn by 2026-27.
After surveying 187 upper-tier authorities in the UK, the BBC's Shared Data Unit found:
- a reduction in spend on legal services, including on counsel for children's social care cases;
- cuts to social workers and safeguarding teams, along with reductions in spend on teams helping young people at risk of sexual exploitation;
- a significant number of reviews and cuts concerning transport for disabled children and adults;
- widespread cuts to education spend.
Coram CEO Dr Carol Homden warned that the funding shortfall faced by councils is having a “significant detrimental impact” on children and young people.
She said: “We see this through our work with professionals, children in or at the edges of the care system, migrant children and children with special education needs and disabilities.
“[…] Every day, we see young lives blighted by increased risk of harm and insecurity, against the backdrop of a real terms reduction on the areas of public expenditure on which children and young people often depend. That is why our Charter calls for a radical rebalancing to restore spending on children’s services across the board and ensure a fairer inter-generational settlement in the long term. This includes calls for free legal advice and representation for children to ensure access to justice.”
Across England, 19 councils are now receiving 'exceptional financial support' from the government – described as an "unprecedented" number by the Local Government Association (LGA).
The LGA’s Autumn Budget submission calls on the Government to take “immediate” steps to stabilise council finances and protect vital local services.
A Government spokesperson said: “All councils have a statutory duty to protect the most vulnerable and safeguard children in their care.
“Despite the inheritance we have been left, this government is re-focusing the children’s social care system to provide earlier support and greater stability for children, alongside work to fix the foundations of local government and provide the long term financial stability they need, through multi year funding settlements.”
Lottie Winson
