City Council doesn't make much needed savings

Councillors have been told plans to save £2.9m at a local authority by reducing reliance on children's care placements have been unsuccessful.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's budget for the current year included proposals to limit dependence on external residential placements for children in care through "targeted step-down activity".

But now officers have predicted the anticipated saving will not be achieved – meaning spending cuts may have to be made elsewhere.