Oxfordshire's children's centres saved from closure
Laura McCardle
Monday, December 9, 2013
Oxfordshire County Council has backtracked over plans to close scores of children's centres, proposing instead to develop a family-focused early intervention service.
The announcement follows weeks of political argument over the future of the county’s children’s centres, which were threatened by council plans to plug a £61m budget hole.
The plans, which unions claimed would see 37 of the council's 44 children’s centres affected, saw hundreds of families protest against them, and led to calls for Prime Minister David Cameron, whose constituency is in the county, to intervene.
Now the council says it has listened to the concerns of families, including those who took part in Talking Oxfordshire meetings, and says it “does not envisage closures”.
Instead it will seek to save £3m from the department’s budget over the next three years by integrating early intervention services, children’s centres and children’s social care to create a more family-focused service.
Ian Hudspeth, leader of Oxfordshire Council, thinks that integrating the services makes “absolute sense”.
He said: “Children’s centres and early intervention hubs have a bright future in Oxfordshire.
“We all want them to remain open and at the same time we all know that savings are needed, so if everybody can pull in the same direction over the next few years we can get to 2017 with a coherent plan that protects the frontline as well as making a contribution to the large savings target Oxfordshire Council has to meet.
“The council absolutely recognises the important work of early intervention services, including children’s centres, and their value to families.
“I am confident that we can maintain our focus on early intervention to help children and families.”
David Ricketts, Unite branch secretary, gave a cautious welcome to "this significant reversal in policy by the council".
He added: “However, there is no room for complacency as this now goes through the council’s committee structure before being debated by the full council in February.
"Public pressure has played a big part in this U-turn, including letters to all the county’s MPs, including David Cameron.”
A review of the council's children's and families' services is currently being carried out by an all-party group of councillors.
