Children’s centre plans in spotlight
Tories urged to stop cuts
TORIES in Leicestershire are being asked to urgently drop plans to close children’s centres in the county following reports that the number of children taken into care has risen by 50 per cent in five years.
More than 550 children are now looked after by the county, leading to an overspend of nearly £2.5 m in the social care budget, according to Labour officials.
The Conservative-controlled county council is looking at closing 24 children’s centres across the county, including Cobden in Loughborough, Shelthorpe, Mountsorrel, Thringstone and Anstey.
The Labour group is calling on the Conservatives to stop cuts to essential early intervention work and consider the long term, expensive problems caused by any closures.
Dr Terri Eynon, Labour group leader at Leicestershire County Council said: “It’s devastating to see the number of children in care rising at such an alarming rate in Leicestershire. Being taken into care can be an incredibly difficult and painful experience for the parents and children, not to mention the additional costs that it incurs for all residents in the county.
“I sincerely hope the Tories can see that these figures will only rise further, if they proceed with their plans to close children’s centres in Leicestershire. We know for a fact these centres provide excellent help and support for families in the early stages, support that prevents problems spiralling and ultimately landing on the door of social services.
“To reduce the support available for young mums and dads is a complete false economy and my fear is that the cost of children’s care will only escalate is centres close.”
Stuart Brady, Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Loughborough, said: “I made the point at the Leicestershire County Council Sure Start consultation meeting in Loughborough in April that the closure of the majority of the council’s Sure Start centres will have a social and economic cost in the long term through care proceedings.
“It’s clear any small saving from shutting Sure Start will be outweighed by the costs of expensive court cases resulting from family breakdown. Such proceedings also have a very high emotional and disruptive toll on all involved especially the children. We as a society need to ensure we invest in public services that can avoid them.
“The Tories are yet to make their final decision on the closure of Leicestershire’s Children’s Centres, but I hope they see these rising figures, listen to the parents, and drop the short-sighted plans for any closures.”
Coun Ivan Ould, cabinet member for children and families, previously said: “Helping the most vulnerable families is key and the proposed new service would ensure they receive the specialist, tailored support they need.
“Although bringing together these services would help us to tackle problems at an early stage more effectively, it does mean fewer people would receive support.”