Judicial review into council decision to close children's centres

The judicial review proceedings have been launched by Irwin Mitchell solicitors after a mother raised concerns over the decision to close the centre she uses.

The plans to reduce the number from 35 to 14 are part of a council drive to save money in the face of budget cuts.

The remaining centres are set to be restructured to become family centres and focus on children and young people up to the age of 19, rather than just up to age five.

This decision came after a consultation last year on three proposals for the future of the children's centres. The other proposals were to retain all the children's centres or scrap them entirely in favour of targeted outreach services.

The mother, who has asked not to be named to protect her child, uses Millbrook Children's Centre in High Wycombe most days for stay and play sessions with her son.

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She also uses the centre for general emotional support and practical advice on issues including housing and benefits.

Irwin Mitchell's team believe that the closures, announced in March and due in September, could be in breach of the Childcare Act 2006 and Equality Act 2010.

They have challenged the decision on several grounds, including that the consultation process was ultimately unfair with some public statements even suggesting the matter was pre-determined.

They also believe it amounts to a breach of the duty to ensure there are sufficient childcare services across Buckinghamshire.

The case is set to be heard on 13 June, at which the court will be asked to make an order preventing the council from taking any further steps to implement the closures.

Solicitor James Betts, from Irwin Mitchell, who is representing the family, said: "Our client and her son have benefitted greatly from the access to the services at Millbrook.

"However, the planned closure of the site and the wider proposals to completely reshape services across the county will make it much harder for families with young children in the area to get the support they need.

"They and many other families have found the current situation hugely distressing and we believe the council should have done more when considering this issue. We are now determined to ensure that our client gets their voice heard on this emotive matter."

Parents and residents in the area set up a campaign group, Save Buckinghamshire's Children's Centres, two years ago to fight the council's plans and aim to keep all of the centres open.

Lead campaigner Alka Dass said: "These centres are a lifeline for many families and their children and closing all of these is not the solution.

"We need money invested into them so they can help more and more families - our voices need to be heard."

The news follows a recent Department for Education announcement of a review of children's centres.

Cllr Warren Whyte, the county's cabinet member for children's services said he could not comment on the legal proceedings, save to caution that replacement services due to launch on 2 September, could be delayed by the legal proceedigns.

"We must ensure our early help offer supports the right families at the right time so that their needs do not escalate and they are given the support they require when they need it," said Whyte.

"It is vital that our new Family Support Service launches on 2 September, as planned.

"Any delay to this will impede our ability to help the very people who need it most, and will have a serious financial impact on the service."

Whyte said that the service changes are part of an Partnership Early Help Strategy created after an "extensive 10-week public consultation", which he claimed two thirds of resondents agreed to.

"Our strategy is not about buildings - it is about people," he added.

"While 16 existing children's centres will expand their offer, as new family centres, plans are being finalised to enable other existing children's centre sites to be used by families in their community."