FUNDING cuts are no excuse for councils putting vulnerable youngsters at risk, says the Government amid claims austerity measures have led to serious failings found within two North-East local authorities.

Council leaders, politicians and union chiefs claim Government cuts have contributed to failures within children's services at both Darlington and Sunderland councils.

In documents published last week, Ofsted concluded that the children's unit at Darlington Borough Council was inadequate and youngsters were being put at risk.

The criticism came weeks after inspectors uncovered ‘systemic poor practice’ within Sunderland City Council children’s services department, which was also judged inadequate.

Darlington Borough Council chief executive Ada Burns last week cited financial constraints as one of a number of factors when asked to sum up the reasons for the inadequate rating.

She said: “[In response to the spending cuts], the council took a decision that it wanted to continue to prioritise frontline social workers.

“The significant reductions that we’ve made have been more in support services.

“That has contributed to some of the challenges we have had in producing a performance report that Ofsted expects."

Darlington MP Jenny Chapman also claimed austerity measures were a factor in the failures within the children's services department.

"This is predominantly a question of inadequate resources," she said.

"With the quality assurances that Ofsted quite rightly wishes to see, that work just cannot be done with the level of staff that currently exists."

The Department for Communities and Local Government said any failure in children's services was very serious and swift action must be taken to tackle underperformance.

A spokesman added: "Councils have had to play their part in tackling the deficit but the vast majority have managed to do so while protecting essential public services such as children’s social care.

"We will to listen to the views of councils about the best way of distributing funding but there can be no excuse for failing to protect vulnerable children.”

Last night, Karen Loughlin, Unison regional organiser for local government, said the union echoed the concerns that funding cuts were having a serious impact of both children and adult social care.

Ms Loughlin said the Government was using "smoke and mirrors" by suggesting funding cuts were not a factor in the failings.

"Children's social care provision is very labour intensive. These are the most vulnerable members in our society. All councils have tried imaginative ways of protecting provision in the face of the cuts but they just can't do it.

"Unfortunately there are going to be some real potential casualties because of this."