Children's minister Margaret Hodge has agreed to meet Southend Council to discuss the continuing and deepening crisis in the town's social services.
The Barking Labour MP will see a deputation, led by council leader Howard Briggs and cabinet member for social services Verina Weaver. It will focus on the problems with children's social services in the town, which are a massive drain on the authority's budget.
Mr Briggs said: "It is good news we will be seeing the minister so we have a chance to explain to her the problems we have in Southend. We shall be urging her to allow us more money to deal with the exceptional situation which exists in the town."
The revised estimate for the cost of social services for children and young people for the current year is nearly £14 million.
Published Friday January 23, 2004
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