A LEADING county councillor has savaged County Hall chiefs after a consultation for cuts to children’s centres was given the green light.
Worcestershire County Council launched its consultation last week following a cabinet meeting on June 16 where changes to the services were proposed.
Labour leader Coun Peter McDonald criticised the council for focusing on the accounts and not on the people the cuts would affect.
This assessment of the services will determine what is given the axe, but Coun McDonald said there is not one of the council owned centres which will not feel the effects of the slash in budget.
“These cutbacks will remove support to families who are most in need and will seriously hurt families and their children and affect the well-being of future generations,” he said.
“The centres have been very successful over the years and it is recognised without them many families will go under
“It is time such austerity cuts were stopped and the county change direction form a local authority obsessed with cutbacks to one who cares about families and public services.
“Children’s services go to the heart of family life and should be protected at all times.
“It is about time Worcestershire woke up to the fact they are affecting real people and their families not some figures on an accountancy sheet,” he added.
Coun John Smith, responsible for Health and Wellbeing, said the council had less money to spend and face financial challenges.
“This means that some of our current services may be reduced or have to be delivered in a very different way,” he said.
“We are working with existing providers to deliver these new ways of working, making sure that resources are targeted at those young people who are in most need. This will allow us to focus on improving outcomes for children and young people.”
Coun Marc Bayliss, cabinet member for Children and families, urged residents to come forward and have their say on the proposals which he argues will increase early years education and childcare provision in at least 11 of the buildings currently used.
“There will however be changes to what is delivered in these buildings and some services that are accessed by families may stop, be delivered differently or take place elsewhere.
“We’re using this consultation to better understand the impact of these changes,” he added.
A further discussion on the proposed cuts will be held at the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel on Friday (July 15).
Visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/childrenscentres to have your say in the consultation which runs until August 17.
