Norfolk County Council: £31.9m cuts proposal to hit children

Norfolk County Council is looking to cut 25 per cent of its children's services budget

Children's services in Norfolk have been asked to look at the consequences of a £31.9m budget cut.

Cutting transport for some pupils with special needs by sending them to local mainstream schools is on the agenda.

The county council said reducing the numbers of children in care by "helping families early" would also save money.

However, reducing them from 1,049 to the recommended level of 420 is "a challenge which is not believed possible", a report said.

The children's services committee will consider the three-year budget on 15 September, with ideas to be put to public consultation over the autumn.

The council's administration is an alliance of Labour, Lib Dems and UKIP supported by the Greens.

Failed to balance budget

Committee chairman and Lib Dem James Joyce said: "We face an unprecedented challenge in achieving such a sizeable reduction in our budget, particularly when such a considerable amount of our work in children's services is both statutory and vital.

"We must continue our focus on helping families early because preventing a crisis before it develops is much more cost effective.

"Likewise, we want to ensure all children are taught close to their homes.

"The priorities must be to continue to be to protect the most vulnerable."

Roger Smith, spokesman on children's services for the Conservative opposition, spoke of arguments between the parties, adding: "How can the administration deal with future cuts across the board of 25 per cent when it has failed to balance current budgets?"

Since 2011, the council has made savings of £244m. The children's services budget for 2015/16 is £208.6m.