Midlands council review of children's services as millions paid to private sector

Under pressure children's services at Dudley Council are being reviewed to create a new strategy for the next five years.

The review is going on as the council pays out millions of pounds to fund out-of-borough residential placements for 63 of the 581 looked after children in Dudley .

A meeting of the council's Children's Corporate Parenting Board in July heard the cost of children in care is £40m per year, with much of that going to private sector providers.

Dudley cabinet member for children's services, Cllr Wayne Little, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The council is currently refreshing its Children's Social Care Sufficiency Strategy, which will outline our plans for the next five years in line with our ambition to secure a home for every child.

"As part of this work