THE COUNTY council is to lead a government initiative to turn around the lives of 1,600 problem families in Hampshire over the next three years.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced the expansion of a payment-by-results scheme to help councils deal with “troubled families.”

Mr Pickles said it was “great news” the county council had agreed to run the programme in Hampshire.

He said: “We now have an opportunity to offer real and lasting change for these families and the communities around them. Everyone will benefit from getting kids off the streets and into school; getting parents off benefits and into work and cutting youth crime and anti-social behaviour.

“But it is also right that we only pay councils in full if they deliver the results we expect.”

The government says 120,000 families across the country are at the root of high amounts of crime and social disorder- and cost taxpayers an estimated £9bn a year.

Minsters have said they want to turn around these families lives by 2015.

Hampshire has been promised £5.3m from a £450m pot of government money. The county council has agreed to contribute a further £1m on top of its existing family intervention work.

The money will go to councils that succeed in reducing truanting, cutting crime, anti-social behaviour and helping parents get jobs.

Under the government programme, the county council will lead various agencies involved with these families, including social workers, police, doctors and probation officials.

All 11 district councils in Hampshire are also taking part in the scheme.

Social workers and other support workers will spend large amounts of time with each family to encourage better behaviour.

The aim is to provide co-ordinated and tailored early help for the whole family.

Councillor Keith Mans, executive member for communities, is leading the partnership group.

The Conservative council chief said: “Families face many pressures in modern life. This programme intends to help them solve their problems for the good of the families themselves and the communities they live in.”

Under the government’s measure families need to meet five out of seven criteria to be classified as “troubled,” including truanting children, parents with addiction and anti-social behaviour.

But critics say public sector cuts limit the impact of the family intervention scheme. The county council’s £100m savings programme included slashing the budget for Sure Start children’s centres and youth workers