Councils show support for Troubled Families programme

Every eligble council has agreed to run the Government’s Troubled Families programme in their area, demonstrating support for the ‘payment by results’ model.

The programme aims to turn around the lives of 120,000 troubled families by 2015, saving the £75,000 each of these families costs in public spending.

Communities secretary, Mr Eric Pickles, said: ‘Councils have welcomed the payment by results model launched in March 2012 to get children off the streets and back into school; reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviour; and put adults on a path back to work.’

‘It is great news that every upper-tier authority has agreed to run this programme in their area. The fast and unanimous level of take-up shows that the Government has got the confidence of local councils that together we can tackle a problem that councils have long grappled with.’

The Local Government Association (LGA) say they are 'unsurprised' by the results as many councils have already been working to implement 'intensive intervention work'.

Cllr Sir Merrick Cockell, chairman of the LGA, said:'Town halls have been clear about the importance of upfront funding and are therefore pleased the Government has listened to their representations. The only way to find savings in the long term is to make the initial investment.'