Title

UNIONS

Council considers job cuts to fund children's services

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is considering cutting 248 jobs to help fund a £5.5m cash boost for children’s services.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is considering cutting 248 jobs to help fund a £5.5m cash boost for children's services.

The proposals, which follow an inadequate rating from Ofsted earlier this year, have been designed to help the council meet the ‘unprecedented' demand for children's social care services.

Stoke-on-Trent is also considering controls on all non-essential spending, the transformation of services, identifying new revenue streams and reviewing contracts.

Council leader Abi Brown, said: ‘The recent Ofsted inspection highlighted the urgent need to make children's services and protecting our vulnerable young people our number one priority. 

‘As a cabinet, we are committed to ensuring that improvement and investment in children's services go hand in hand, and these mid-year proposals will allow us to redirect necessary funding so that we can make this happen.'

In March, Ofsted warned children in the city faced ‘serious and widespread' delays in having their needs met and vulnerable children were not being safeguarded.

UNIONS

Building digital foundations for social housing

By Lord Chris Holmes | 10 July 2026

Lord Chris Holmes looks at how AI and digital infrastructure can help social housing deliver safer, fairer and more efficient services.

UNIONS

Making the right choice for the next generation

By Emmet Regan | 09 July 2026

Emmet Regan looks at the factors to consider when choosing the best model for the delivery of children’s services during local government reorganisation.

UNIONS

LGR's shadow over children's welfare

By Ann McGauran | 08 July 2026

As the sector’s children’s services chiefs gather at their annual conference in Manchester, Colin Foster talks to Ann McGauran about the workforce implicatio...

UNIONS

Leading in an age of anger

By Robin Tuddenham | 07 July 2026

Robin Tuddenham says poor behaviour is making local government leadership harder, making stronger standards, better support and trust more important than ever.

Popular articles by William Eichler