“NO INCREASE IN COUNCIL TAX OVER LAMBETH CHILD ABUSE SCANDAL”
Lambeth council say there will be NO increase in council tax because of compensation payments set to be paid to victims of the Shirley Oaks scandal.
A council statement said: “The report by the Shirley Oaks Survivors Group details the abuse and poor care suffered by hundreds of children under Lambeth council care when it ran children’s homes up until they were closed in the 1980s.
“Lambeth has accepted that children in its care were put at serious risk and has publicly apologised.
“The council have drawn up a compassionate draft redress scheme that looks to compensate people for the abuse they suffered, as well as those who were placed in harm’s way. “The council have also been working closely with SOSA.
“A great deal of work is now required to identify all the people impacted and the levels of redress. “A dedicated helpline that will be able to provide further advice and information about the redress scheme will open by the end of this month.
“The council also have a duty to manage the finances of the council prudently.
“The total sum of redress is likely to be considerable, but the scheme will not be the cause of any future rise in council tax. “We are exploring ways in which this financial obligation is met in the most appropriate way, that has the least impact on the services we currently provide.
“We will provide further updates on the situation in due course.”