A rise in the number of adults with severe learning disabilities will cost councils an extra £2bn by 2025, figures released today have revealed.

The analysis by the County Councils Network (CCN) show that the annual cost of supporting adults with learning disabilities will increase from 4.8bn in 2015 to £6.7bn in 2025.

CCN said the Government must recognise these ‘enormous’ extra care costs to ‘ensure the long-term survival of councils’.

Chairman of CNN and leader of Kent County Council, Cllr Paul Carter Cllr Carter, said: ‘The government’s recent announcements have provided us with a lifeline for next year, but to ensure the long-term survival of councils these enormous extra costs must be recognised and the situation rectified in the Spending Review.

‘As part of a funding and integration package with the NHS, I believe that this should mean at least 20% of the NHS’ £20bn ‘birthday present’ should invested directly by councils in community-based care to meet growing demand in areas such as learning disabilities.’