Sue Robb of 4Children talks to Julie Laughton and Alison Britton from the Department for Education about the role of childminders in delivering the 30 hours free entitlement.
Councils at risk from service failure, report warns
A small number of councils are at risk of financial or service failure, a report published by accountancy firm Grant Thornton has cautioned.
The report also warned that for the first time ever, one council could even be moved into special measures on financial grounds within the next year.
The report read: “With large funding deficits still looming, service reduction or even failure is becoming a distinct possibility.
“We are finding greater financial uncertainty and risk in councils’ strategic financial plans [across all council types] as they continue to search for alternatives to service reduction, with far fewer options than they have had over the past five years.
“Unless the sector responds even more radically to austerity, demographic pressures and technological change, the future sustainability of a small minority of local authorities will become increasingly challenging.”
The research suggested there was particular concern among councils in the South-West of England, while the majority of chief financial officers conceded that reaching a tipping point was possible.
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Founded in 1792, Don & Low began as a small woven textiles manufacturer in Scotland, gradually expanding its operations and diversifying its production capabilities over the years. Through strategic investments in technology and a relentless pursuit of quality, Don & Low has evolved into a leading vertically integrated manufacturer, specialising in the production of construction membranes, geotextiles, and industrial textiles & yarns.
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UKREiiF has quickly become a must-attend in the industry calendar for Government departments and local authorities.
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Neat Bins, Part of Neat Seats Ltd is a company that specialises in cleaning all your wheeled bins
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