Campaigners protesting against B&NES Council's planned £2.3 million cuts to the area's Children's Centre budget over the next two years gathered in advance of the Early Years, Children and Youth Panel meeting on Monday this week, to put pressure on the Council to rethink its plans. Despite strong opposition, the panel agreed to recommend a 'Hub mode' for Children's Centres, which will facilitate the cuts.

Protestors included Labour Councillors, local parents and activists, who were speaking at the meeting about the impact the potential 38% cuts would have. An online petition has been set up, which will run through October and into November in the run-up to the Council's meeting during that month, when a decision will be made about the future of the area's Children's Centres.

The proposals could see services provided for children aged 0–11 change significantly should the cuts go ahead, as the Council targets a reduced overall level of spending – focusing instead, it says, on the most vulnerable families in the area. B&NES Council state that central Government changes to Early Years funding for two to three-year-olds, combined with cuts in 'Early Intervention' grants, mean that it must reshape its services for families locally.

From April 2015, all of the eleven Children's Centre buildings would be kept, however, B&NES would only be responsible for three Centre 'Hubs' – in Bath, Keynsham, and Radstock. This would mean that, locally, centres in Peasedown St John, Midsomer Norton, Paulton and Chew Valley will be at risk, unless ways can be found to keep them open and running – potentially with the help of schools, nurseries, volunteers and, as suggested in this week's letters – Parish Councils (see Page 16).

Speaking this week, a Council spokesperson said: "Under the proposals, no Children's Centre would close. They will remain an important part of local communities. But aside from the three Hubs in Bath, Keynsham and the Somer Valley (Radstock), it will be other local partners, such as nurseries, schools and the charitable/voluntary sector, who will run the buildings.

"The Council's services will be targeted towards the most vulnerable families and children. These services include parenting programmes, healthy eating programmes, postnatal support and support for teenage mothers. An Outreach Team, who would go into the community to visit vulnerable families would also be maintained. Making best use of volunteers is also part of our plans."

By its own admission on its website, B&NES say that 'a child's early experience lays the foundation for future life'. Midsomer Norton Children's Centre, which was built in 2008, provides play and development opportunities, plus support and advice for parents. It offers stay and play, postnatal groups, child health clinics, parenting support/courses, access to health visitors and outreach workers, plus support from the Citizens' Advice Bureau and Job Centre Plus.

Cllr Liz Hardman, Labour Spokesperson for Early Years, has been speaking out against the planned cuts. She said: "Over the past few months, I have visited Children's Centres and seen for myself the amazing work that they do. Children's Centres provide valuable support to ALL families with young children.

"The Labour Group is totally opposed to cuts of this level, which will inevitably lead to a huge reduction in the services provided by Children's Centres. It is a false economy.

"I understand that the Council needs to save money, but cutting Children's Centres will lead to higher costs in the long run. Children's Centres help parents to give their children a good start in life, preventing bigger problems developing in the future. If the cuts have to happen, they should be intelligent, not short-term fixes. Closing centres is not the answer."

Local Conservatives have also been speaking out about the plans this week. Councillor Michael Evans (Midsomer Norton, North), said: "The proposed cuts will be deeply concerning to the many residents in Midsomer Norton who use and value the services provided by our local Children's Centre.

"B&NES has said that no Children's Centre will close, but clearly the services provided at them are set to be cut back drastically. The current lack of certainty over who will actually run the local Children's Centres, what services will be provided and who will be able to use them, only adds to the worries of local parents.

"There are clearly sensible savings which can be made from restructuring the service and making greater use of voluntary and other organisations. But to slash the budget by nearly 40%, as the Lib-Dems plan, goes way too far. This goes far beyond the level of budget reductions made by central Government.

"There remain far too many questions surrounding the future of our Children's Centres, which B&NES must provide answers to urgently. Conservatives will be pressing for answers to these questions and seeking alternative savings, which can prevent the draconian levels of cuts currently planned."

Even fellow Lib-Dem Councillors have waded into the argument. Peasedown St John Lib-Dem Councillors, Sarah Bevan and Nathan Hartley, have said this week that they will do everything they can to keep their local Children's Centre open. In recent weeks, a cross-party working group has been looking at what affect such cuts would have on the current eleven Council-run Children's Centres. Cllr Sarah Bevan has been the Lib-Dem representative on the group. She said: "The way any society treats its most vulnerable members is a measure of how civilised that society is. Whilst I understand that the UK is in debt and local authorities have to do their bit to reduce that, I also believe that the youngest and poorest and their parents and carers must be prioritised in a humane community.

"I have put my name to the principle of safeguarding early intervention by separating this from the current review. I believe in retaining all of the existing Children's Centre buildings. Whilst Councillor Hartley and I will do our best to persuade the Cabinet to maintain the current level of services, we also want to make sure the Peasedown St John Children's Centre remains open if the cuts go ahead. Cllr Hartley and I will be exploring a range of options and looking at what community/voluntary organisations would be best positioned to run the building if the need arises."

The Cabinet will now meet to consider the recommendation for the Hub model on 13th November. "The only way we'll get the Council to rethink these planned cuts is by getting across just how much parents value the service our Children's Centres provide," says Cllr Hardman.

"I am unable to support the recommendations made on Monday. Instead, I will be presenting a minority report to the Cabinet on 13th November, urging them to find resources from other budgets to ensure a viable service across the area."

Readers can sign the online petition at: http://tinyurl.com/124ajp7">http://tinyurl.com/124ajp7 by 11th November. Cllr Hardman will also be at Midsomer Norton Children's Centre on Friday this week at 9.20 a.m. collecting signatures.