THANK you to the Echo for your front page story on the rising numbers of children in care in Dorset (Number of children in care rises by 40 per cent).

Through no fault of their own, these are children and young people who rely on precious local services. Against this background of increasing need, our council has already made huge cuts and is being asked to make more.

On Wednesday, county councillors in the Cabinet meet to discuss budgets. Currently, there is a serious risk of £5.6 million overspend for 2015/16, with a £2.9 million overspend directly linked to the tragic rise of children and young people in care.

Those working with children and young people do so with dedication and determination. They work flat out to keep up standards of service, to give these young people the best start in life.

Council spending has borne the brunt of Westminster spending cuts. This makes no sense as, by law, local government cannot go overdrawn. Irresponsible banks caused the recession, not vulnerable children and adults.

What is the government’s vision for local services?

Local Government Association leader Gary Porter points out that, since councils cannot go overdrawn, they will simply have to stop delivering services, and the government step in. Councils will become a network of outsourced contracts.

That sounds like more bureaucracy and less value for money to me.

The government promised no cuts to frontline services: we’re now seeing these empty promises for what they are.

We need a long-term financial plan from central government, we need reformed council tax banding, we need a government committed to local services.

HAZEL PRIEST

Weymouth