Government Refuse to Refund Charges for keeping Children Safe in Leeds (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Government Refuse to Refund Charges for keeping Children Safe in Leeds

February 10, 2010 12:00 AM

Cllr Stewart Golton (Lib Dem, Rothwell), Executive Board Member for Children's Services said "I find it appalling that our Government is continuing to make Leeds residents pay extra for keeping Children safe in Leeds."

"Last year Leeds City Council spent around £800,000 on Court Fees to cover care and adoption proceedings, but the Government has only funded us for £457,000. As it was the Government's decision to increase fees from £150 to up to nearly £5,000 per case they have no excuse in blaming anyone else for the costs that we are forced to incur in order to keep children safe.

"Yesterday, the Justice Secretary, Jack Straw MP, was asked when this issue would be addressed, and when a review (the Plowden Review) into the issue would be made public. He was either unable, or unwilling, to answer the question. He merely claimed the Government had reimbursed local councils, which is definitely not the case for Leeds, and said the recommendations of the Plowden report were being studied 'with care'.

"MPs have now gone off for a half term break of 11 days, that should give Mr Straw plenty of time to study the recommendations, and he really has no excuse for not publishing them, and announcing whether he intends to accept them or not. Council Tax payers in Leeds should not have to pay extra because of Government delays."