What now for deprivations of liberty?
What will the effect of the postponement of the Liberty Protections Safeguards be on local authorities? Local Government Lawyer asked 50 adult social care lawyers for their views on the potential consequences.
SPOTLIGHT |
The legal services department at Manchester City Council appears to have survived the local authority’s severe cutbacks relatively unscathed, it has emerged.
A report to be considered by Manchester’s Executive on 16 February says: “There is good evidence that our Legal Service is more cost effective than external provision and externalising this service would, therefore, only increase costs. In light of the settlement £50k efficiency savings have been identified and the service will work with directorates to consider opportunities for further savings, for example, reducing external legal costs.”
It adds: “We are actively assessing whether collaborative working with other AGMA councils has the potential to deliver longer term improvements, as well as further efficiencies.”
Last month Manchester and Salford City Council confirmed to Local Government Lawyer they were reviewing their legal teams, with a shared service one option under consideration.
Manchester’s budget proposals set out how it will make £109m of savings over the next financial year, rising to £170m in 2012/13. The council said it needed to make 25% savings overall over the next two years, adding that it had needed to find £60m more savings than anticipated as a result of the local government financial settlement.
Key proposals in the budget include:
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: "Putting this budget together has involved the most difficult, and in many ways most unpalatable, process I have been involved in since I was first elected to the Council.
"I cannot and will not pretend that the financial position in which we have been placed is anything other than bad news. Manchester is the fourth most deprived local authority area in the country but is among the top five hardest hit local authorities. But we are doing everything we can to protect and maintain the services which people need and make sure funding is targeted where it will make the most positive difference."
Philip Hoult