‘No cuts for a year’, plead councillors

At a special meeting of Warwick District Council on Wednesday, members agreed that a letter would be sent to Warwickshire County Council urging that potential cuts are reconsidered.

The letter highlights support from the district council to all family centres and asks that a review period is given to look into alternatives.

It also calls for the council to work in an “ongoing partnership” with health trusts prior to any financial decisions being made.

The county council has proposed cuts of up to 30 per cent to children’s centres across Warwickshire in the hope of saving £2.3m next year. The proposals would provide a joined up ‘early years offer’ of services for children under five and their families.

If approved, the plans could mean closure or amalgamation for many centres and could threaten the services currently provided to families.

Cllr Jane Margaret Knight (Lab, Leam Brunswick) who proposed the decision be held back for 12 months, said: “These services are vital for our families.

“They catch potential social and development problems early when they are in contact with children. To decide to implement these cuts now seems rather premature.

“All I am asking is that the council holds off for a year and gets together with health representatives, midwives and other agencies to work together to find a solution here.”

Cllr Janice Dean (Lab, Leam Clarendon) agreed that “now is not the time” to push through such cuts.

A public consultation over the proposals ends on Tuesday and all are invited to respond before that date.