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Council's funding for disabled children's short breaks challenged

Steve Broach and Gethin Thomas have been instructed by James Betts and Jennifer Wright at Irwin Mitchell in a judicial review of Lancashire County Council's budget for the Lancashire Break Time ("LBT") service. LBT is a county-wide service providing short breaks for parents or carers of children and young people with special educational needs and/or a disability ("SEND"). The Claimants, two disabled children, are both heavily reliant on the LBT service. The LBT budget was set on the basis of a proposed new delivery model for the provision of the service which the Defendant has not approved, but is due to consult upon. The Claimants contend that the Defendant failed to take into account: (i) the notable and significant increase in demand for the LBT service since 2018, and (ii) that current funding levels are inadequate.