Council now faces 'difficult decisions on family services'

Funding fears prompt warning from ex-authority leader

- Phil Corrigan Local Democracy Reporter

'DIFFICULT decisions' must be taken to keep support services for families going, a former council leader has warned.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Family Matters programme, which launched last year, aims to cut the number of children in care by providing families with extra support before their problems escalate.

Council bosses say the work has already started to have an impact after its first full year, with the number of children in care falling from 1,168 to 1,066 in the 12 months to March.

The number of child protection plans has fallen even more sharply, from 503 to 311.

But there are concerns around how much funding will be available for the programme beyond 2025/26, and the extent of future provision is uncertain.

Abi Brown, pictured, a former Conservative council leader, says the authority may need to make cuts elsewhere in order to ensure Family Matters can continue.