I have recently been contacted by a number of constituents
about funding for children services at local authorities.
The decisions on budgets for all services run by local
authorities, including Cornwall Council, are rightly local decisions made by
councillors and officers.
Clearly there are many pressures on public spending and ever
increasing demand in a number of areas including this one.
Ultimately the decision on the level of funding for these
services is a matter for Cornwall Council within their £1.4 billion budget.
Clearly we want to see children's services properly funded
within the overall level of funding available but it is for Cornwall Council to
set the Budget responsibly, which Councillors have a chance to vote on every
year.
Interestingly, last year Cornwall Council spent less of a
percentage of its budget on children’s services than similar councils, but this
is a political decision made by their councillors, who the budgetary
responsibility rests with.
I would also advise that you contact your own Cornwall
Councillor, who will be able to feed in direct to this process. You can find
out who your Cornwall Councillor is by following the below link:
I hope this is helpful in outlining my position on this
matter and giving further steps that residents can take to highlight this with
Cornwall Council.
