Time to speak out on child services cuts
FAMILIES are urged to air views on controversial plans to shut children’s centres in the borough in a bid to help save £3.8 million.
A consultation on combining early help and prevention support into one service has been launched.
People have until April 22 to make comment on the proposals which would see closures in Bagworth, Barwell and Desford and at Hinckley’s Westfield Community Centre and Hinckley West in Wykin Road.
Leaders at Leicestershire County Council, which runs the units - under the SureStart banner - insist the move to a single Family Well-being Service is positive and an “excellent development”.
Parents of children who use the centres may see things differently. The consultation document, which can be found on the county council’s website, states: “We’re proposing to merge a range of ‘early help’ and prevention support into one, new-style service - and want to hear your views.
“We’re proposing to bring together four servic- es - children’s centres, Supporting Leicestershire Families (SLF), Youth Offending Service (YOS) and information, support and assessment teams into a Family Wellbeing Service.
“The services tackle problems at an early stage and by preventing problems growing, help to reduce the need for the police or social care to get involved.
“The new service would - support vulnerable children from birth to 19 years-old and their families, run from 15 buildings across the county - a reduction of 25, including 24 children’s centres - and include support deliv- ered in people’s homes and other community venues, and reduce costs by £3.8 million.”
The county says this figure is made up £1.5 million of council budget reductions and £2.3 million from the council, partners and the Government, which might not be able to continue if Government funding for the Troubled Families Programme is stopped.
The programme offers assistance to around 880 families who have issues such as joblessness, antisocial behaviour, drugs, truancy, alcoholism and teenage pregnancy.
The central funding is likely to end from 2019/20 and officials estimate some 290 families may lose their support.
According to the proposals the preferred location for a hub in Hinckley would be Hinckley East Children’s Centre in Granville Road.
The children’s centre in Earl Shilton is the suggested site as one of the smaller support buildings.
County Hall has acknowledged some families would have to travel much further to access services if the changes go ahead.
The council has also warned closing the children’s centres could lead to it having to repay £5.8 million of grants provided by the Government to open them.
Opposition councillors have spoken out against the moves, with Liberal Democrat group spokesman for children and families Cllr Geoff Welsh saying: “As always, these decisions are being driven by Government cuts to council budgets.
“Is the Government aware of the effects that their spending decisions will have on outcomes for vulnerable children?
“We question whether the council is doing enough to make the cur- rent Government aware of the consequences of its decisions will have on Leicestershire’s children.”
Conservative cabinet member for children and young people Cllr Ivan Ould said the authority would continue to lobby Whitehall for more Troubled Families cash.
However, he added: “The concept of a single wellbeing service should get unanimous support. This is an excellent development.”