Bath and North East Somerset Council's ruling Liberal Democrat Cabinet has voted to push ahead with plans to cut the authority's budget for Children's Centres and Early Years support by up to £2.3 million.
The move has been criticised by both Labour and Conservative Councillors, who have said the decision by the Liberal Democrats is 'deeply disappointing' and described it as a 'missed opportunity' to demonstrate that the Council was listening to the concerns of local parents worried about the planned cutbacks.
At a meeting of the Cabinet last Wednesday, 13th November, it was agreed to note the recommendations of the Council's Early Years, Children and Youth Scrutiny Panel, but to press ahead with plans which could see the Children's Centres budget cut by up to 38%.
The meeting heard from a number of local parents who attended to speak against the planned budget cuts and pleaded with the Cabinet to find alternative savings. Conservative Shadow Spokesman for Children's Services, Cllr Michael Evans, also spoke at the meeting, arguing that the scale of cuts proposed by the Council would prove damaging to Children's Centre services.
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Evans commented: "Families from across B&NES are clearly deeply concerned at the level of cuts currently proposed to Children's Centres by the Council. The Lib-Dems missed a real opportunity at this meeting to show that the Council is listening and trying to address these concerns.
"Conservative Councillors secured a number of concessions in the recommendations of the Council's Early Years Scrutiny Panel, including asking the Cabinet to rethink the scale of budget cuts. So it's deeply disappointing that the Liberal Democrats failed to respond to this. At £2.3 million, equivalent to 38% of the total budget, the scale of these cuts go way beyond those imposed by central Government.
"There are clearly some sensible savings which can be made from restructuring the service, including more partnership working with voluntary organisations, as well as health services and schools. But cutting back to just three 'hub' centres and slashing the budget by 38% will leave many communities with severely reduced services and must be reconsidered."
Labour Councillors have also reacted to the meeting. Cllr Hardman (Labour Spokesperson for Early Years) said: "The assurances we have received from the Lib-Dem Cabinet about all Children's Centres remaining open are hollow words. It appears that the only reason the Lib-Dems are retaining the buildings is that, otherwise, they would be forced to pay back the money that was used to build them. But what use is a building if nothing happens inside it? As I said during the Cabinet meeting, the buildings may be retained, but the key will literally be left under the mat.
"It will not be possible to retain the same level of service with a cut of 38.8% to the budget. Most Children's Centre jobs would be halved. There would be 40% less parenting courses, 40% less targeted work to promote child development, no funding for breast-feeding groups, no funding for mental health services and no subsidies for the five nurseries attached to Children's Centres, which have a high number of children in need.
"Time and again decision-makers have failed to respond to the voices of those who matter: the children, parents and families who have articulated so clearly what Children's Centres mean to them. I will continue to campaign for the B&NES Cabinet to look at the implications of the proposed budget reductions, consider what potential there is to make efficiency savings that will not impact on frontline services and identify resources from elsewhere to offset the £2.3m budget cut."