The concern was raised following the publication of the department'seagerly awaited guidance on phase two children's centres last week.Local authorities that have been asked to build a large number ofcentres are alarmed by a target that requires them to submit informationon all proposed centres by November.
They must also submit "full centre implementation plans" by Februarynext year.
Hertfordshire County Council has been asked to create 49 children'scentres in phase two, one of the largest number in any part ofEngland.
The authority's head of Sure Start, Helen Ashdown, said it would beimpossible to carry out the thorough community consultation needed todeliver detailed plans on time. "The guidance is telling us we need tomake sure we get all stakeholders on board, and that we're doing thisfrom the community upwards," she said. "Yet we can't do that between nowand February."
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