Community Budgets start next year

Community Budgets, set up with the specific brief of tackling social problems affecting families with complex needs, will go live in April 2011.

Covering 16 areas in England, the budgets will be controlled by and made up of funds pooled by 28 councils and partner organisations.

Money will be spent on solutions to help vulnerable families. The aim is to join up services and intervene at an early stage so that lives can be improved and long term problems averted.

Community Budgets develop the principles promoted by Total Place, and are seen by government as an opportunity to redesign and integrate front line services and management functions. Emphasis is on reducing the cost of services and improving results for local people.

The 16 areas have been chosen because of their strong track record in building local relationships with key players in public, voluntary and community organisations; and includes the West Midlands area of Birmingham.

The budgets will be rolled out nationally by 2013-14.

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