The story of the Social Services North West campaign on Finance

January - March 2002

Wide press coverage of Westminster meeting 

A Press Release was issued on Monday 18 March covering the meeting with MPs on 12 March about the funding crisis, and members' evaluation of it at their quarterly meeting on 15 March.  Issues highlighted to the MPs by north west social services chiefs included:

•  The shortage of funds for children’s services, facing higher demand and costs

• Funding growth is three times higher in the NHS than in social services

• The restrictions of government grants, which make it harder to meet local need

• Underfunding of new duties and excess withdrawal of monies for duties being taken over by central government

• Increased cost of private and voluntary services

MPs said in reply that they and the Government were listening, and there was every prospect of better funding for social services in the future.

Deputy Chair Councillor Ken Keith (Knowsley), who chaired the Westminster meeting, said "I was very pleased with our turnout, and with the way our members expressed themselves.  The MPs did take our message on board and I feel it was very worthwhile."  Councillor Cliff Morris (Bolton), Chair of Social Services North West, said: “Clearly an excellent start has been made.  It appears from what the MPs told us that the Secretary of State is indeed listening.  But this is not the end of the road, and the pressure will continue.” 

Articles have already appeared in the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo and Warrington Guardian.  Some of these illustrate how little control any organisation has over the final presentation of a story in the media.  Is it true that there is no such thing as bad publicity?  Read for yourself and decide!

Click here to go to the Press Release of 18 March 2002:
Social Services chiefs face MPs over funding crisis

Click here to go to the Manchester Evening News article of 18 March

Click here to go to the Liverpool Echo article of 15 March and Councillor Ken Keith's reply

Click here to go to the Warrington Guardian article of 22 March

'Very worthwhile' verdict on Commons meeting 

Members of Social Services North West who had been to the House of Commons on 12 March 2002 to meet the region's MPs "came away feeling our time was well spent"' they said at their quarterly meeting held last Friday 15 March.  Two dozen members and officers had travelled to London to put their points face to face, and 20 North West MPs turned up in person to hear what we had to say. Councillor Ken Keith (Knowsley), Deputy Chair of Social Services North West who chaired the meeting, said "I was very pleased with our turnout, and with the way our members expressed themselves.  The MPs did take our message on board and I feel it was very worthwhile."

“I felt it was a very civilised discussion," said Councillor John O’Neill (Wigan).  "They were aware of our concerns but it reinforced the message.”  Councillor Peter Connor (Salford) said: “This is the best feeling I’ve had from any delegation I’ve been on to London.  It shows that this organisation is now a formidable group.  I used to think it was a waste of time, a paper tiger.  Now I know it is a tiger with teeth.”  Closing the discussion on this item, Cllr Cliff Morris (Bolton) Chair of Social Services North West said: “Clearly an excellent start has been made.  It appears from what the MPs told us that the Secretary of State is indeed listening.  But this is not the end of the road, and the pressure will continue.” 

Click here to go to the full minutes of the meeting with Members of Parliament on 12 March 2002

March 12 2002: Social Services North West comes to Westminster 

Arrangements have now been finalised for Social Services North West members to visit the House of Commons to discuss financial concerns with North West MPs.  The meeting will be held at 2.30pm on Tuesday 12 March, and members are asked to meet David Crausby MP in the Central Lobby of the House of Commons (access by St Stephen's entrance in Parliament Square) shortly before that time.  Already a number of authorities have notified who their delegates will be, and they are approaching their own local MPs in addition to the general invitation issued by the Chair.  

Click here for the Briefing Paper to be considered at the meeting

Click here for a list of the members and officers of Social Services North West who plan to attend the meeting

This is Social Services North West's first parliamentary lobbying exercise, and it is hoped to strengthen in this way our links with North West MPs and their understanding of social services issues.  The LGA has made it plain that it sees the direct lobbying of Ministers as its own domain, so the purpose of this visit is to make an impact on the MPs who represent member authorities of Social Services North West.

Click here to read the LGA Service Working Group For Personal Social Services - Expenditure Report 2003/04 to 2005/06

The LGA also recently published the results of the joint survey undertaken with ADSS and Treasurers, revealing a serious shortfall of resources for social services.  Local government leaders from all political parties, stood alongside directors of social services to warn that social care services are in "serious jeopardy unless substantial, immediate and long term financial investment is made."

One of the main causes of the acute financial pressure has been the remorseless rise in the numbers of children being looked after by local authorities, with almost a half of social services departments recording an increase in numbers. According to the survey: "The greatest pressures are in residential care, including specialist and secure provision and foster care including specialist placements.”

A comprehensive survey of current social services budgets was conducted by the Association of Directors of Social Services, the Local Government Association and Treasurer Societies which shows local authorities have been forced to find an extra £200m to keep services afloat in 2001/2 – this money has been found at the expense of investment in other services and through council tax increases.

The survey also clearly indicates that the pressures will be carried forward into next year (2002/03) as councils seek to pay for this year's deficits from funds raised by the council tax levied in April.

Click here to go to the results of the Social Services Budget Survey

LGA Press release: Social care investment tops spending review demands from LGA

LGA Press release: Survey shows severe funding crisis in services for children and older people

Working Together - Delivering Excellence in Public Services - the LGA's submission to the Comprehensive Spending Review

Social Services North West's press campaign on finance hit the Municipal Journal on 1 February, when their lead story 'Budget boost fails to avert £1.4 billion cash crisis' included, as its fifth paragraph:

'And 19 north-west metropolitan, unitary and county councils have banded together to form Social Services North West to express anger at the social service settlement.  They say their budgets face a 'severe financial squeeze' this year and intend sending a deputation to Westminster.'

Other articles have appeared in the regional press and interviews given to three local radio stations.

Click to go to the Oldham Chronicle article and editorial of Monday 4 February

Click to go to the Warrington Guardian article on 31 January 2002

Click to go to the Manchester Evening News article on 22 January 2002

Click to read the Social Services North West Press Release on Finance issues of 23 January 2002