Briefings and responses

As providers seek to offer children spaces within the current funding constraints, there is a risk to provision for disadvantaged two-year-old children and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), for whom provision is more expensive.

We need to help pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at any earlier point, to ensure they are fully supported in school and not left vulnerable to criminal exploitation. This includes significant and sustainable funding to manage the rising demand in support from pupils with SEND.

The average annual cost to a council of a special needs placement in 2017/18, was £6,000 per pupil per year in a mainstream school, compared with £23,000 per pupil per year in a maintained special school, and £40,000 per pupil per year in an independent or non-maintained special school.

The ability of councils to provide the support needed to all carers, is undermined by the funding to councils and the impact on social care budgets, coupled with increasing demands and increasing costs. We are calling on the Government to use the upcoming Spending Review to fund the £3.1 billion shortfall facing children’s services by 2024/25.

Homelessness is a tragedy for all those it affects and is one of the most visible signs of the nation’s housing crisis.

Knife crime has a devastating impact on victims, their families and communities. The recent rise in such crimes committed by young people is of enormous concern.

Despite the new money, councils still face an overall funding gap of almost £8 billion by 2025 just to maintain services at current levels. It is becoming increasingly challenging to maintain the current level of support for the Armed Forces Community.

"We consider that there is an urgent need to consolidate the CIL regulations into a single updated version to reflect the numerous changes made since its introduction."

We do remain concerned by the increase in the charges councils are having to pay to the ICO as data controllers. This comes at a time when local government is under significant financial pressure and councils are receiving no additional government funding to help implement GDPR.

Councils are central to building communities that are inclusive, cohesive and promote people’s life chances.