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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Patrick Butler Social policy editor

One in 10 biggest English councils risk bankruptcy over child protection bill

People walking in a square next to Birmingham's Council House
The Council House (left) in Birmingham, where the city council declared effective bankruptcy in September. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA

“Out of control” increases in child protection spending since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic have put one in 10 of England’s biggest councils at risk of effective bankruptcy in the next few months, a survey has revealed.

Many county councils and unitary authorities are “running out of road” to avoid insolvency as they grapple with high inflation, increases in children being taken into care, and massive bills for children’s homes, the County Councils Network (CCN) said.

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