Council set to downgrade seven children's centres

Cheshire West and Chester Council said that under its plans, all 15 existing locations will continue to provide services, but only eight of them will remain as designated children’s centres, offering a full “core offer” of services.

The remaining seven sites will provide a reduced service, which will be “tailored to meet the needs of local children”.

The council also wants to integrate its 0-5 years healthy child programme with children’s centre services and the 5-19 years health and wellbeing service.

The plans form part of efforts to make savings of £57m across the local authority over the next four years due to reductions in central government funding. The council said this includes a £534,000 drop in public health funding for 0-19 years services.

“We know this will force a number of difficult decisions, so we need to ensure that available money can be focused on providing services from experienced professionals for children and their families, including those most vulnerable,” a consultation document on the proposals states.

“We also want to make the maximum use of the current network of children’s centre buildings, taking account of the facilities and services that are well used by families, partners and members of the community, to enable them to be used in the most efficient way possible.

“It is vital that we develop ways of delivering services that avoids duplication and is sustainable in the long-term.”

A consultation on the proposals will run until 26 June.