A Labour council has accused the housing, communities, and local government secretary, Steve Reed, of displaying 'arrogance, indifference, and moral bankruptcy' towards children in social care. This accusation comes after a meeting where council leaders sought funding to alleviate the growing cost of social care, a pressing issue in the town of Hartlepool, one of England's most deprived areas. The council's Labour leaders expressed their outrage at Reed's response, which they deemed dismissive and insensitive to the plight of vulnerable children. The town, located in County Durham, has the third-highest number of children in care per capita in the country, and the council leaders are demanding more support to address this crisis. Pamela Hargreaves, the Labour leader of Hartlepool council, criticized Reed's statement that the government wouldn't 'reward councils for having high numbers of children in care', calling it a reflection of moral bankruptcy. She emphasized that protecting vulnerable children is a fundamental duty of the state, and proper funding is essential. The government, however, argues that it is overhauling the outdated council funding system and has allocated significant funds for local authorities, including a substantial increase for Hartlepool council. Despite this, local government leaders argue that more funding is necessary to prevent further bankruptcies among local authorities. The Labour group in Hartlepool has also highlighted the inadequate funding they receive for looked-after children, which has led to expensive private placements due to a foster carer shortage. The situation has sparked controversy, with the Labour councillors considering quitting the party after feeling 'betrayed' by ministers. The council's budget decision on Tuesday will reveal whether they will raise council tax or not, and the upcoming council elections in May could bring significant changes to the political landscape in Hartlepool.
