News
Local Authorities outsourcing services, including Children’s Centres
21 Oct 2010
In light of budget cuts, the localisation agenda and the Big Society message, authorities are being pushed to outsource more and more of their services. Suffolk is one authority that aims to save 30% of its total budget by commissioning nearly all of its services.
Suffolk’s “new strategic direction” will be tested out gradually, with the council intending to learn from the early services. These are likely to include prominent children’s services, including Children’s Centres, although child protection will continue to sit within authority control to ensure accountability.
Concerns have been raised by some over how such steps may distance local authorities from front line work, with risks that services become bogged down in tightly controlled contracts and strict specifications.
