A council in negotiations with ministers for a bailout to cover its £64 million high needs funding blackhole is now facing legal action from parents over the controversial deal’s “shameful secrecy”.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is one of at least five councils in talks with the government over agreeing a “safety valve” bailout in return for sweeping reforms to get SEND spend back under control.
Deals are normally agreed between officials behind closed doors. But BCP was rare in debating details of the deal in public at a council hearing.
The council is pushing for a 15-year plan to get their budget under control, saying if they did it any quicker they may face breaching their legal duties to vulnerable children. Most of the other 34 deals with councils are between five and seven years.
