The number of children being looked after by Southend Council has risen sharply, according to new figures.
Between May and September this year, figures rose from 265 to 293 and the trend appears to be continuing upwards, social care director John Nawrockyi told the cabinet.
He said the increasing numbers had had a major impact on the budget for child care, which is one of the largest services run by the social care department.
Verina Wilson, cabinet member for social care, said: "The simple fact is that we cannot afford any more children in council care.
"The real truth is that we cannot even afford the numbers we have at the moment, because the amount which is being spent is having an impact across the whole of the authority.
"We are faced with a worrying trend of younger teenagers being chucked out of home with nowhere to go, who we have to take the responsibility for."
Council leader Howard Briggs said the figures showed a "very depressing situation" but he knew every effort was being made to alleviate it.
Published Wednesday November 19, 2003
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