Submitted by Daniel Mapp on Fri, 11/03/2011 - 10:53
Westminster City Council seeks parents’ views on plans to save £715,614 while keeping all 12 Children’s Centres open.
Westminster City Council runs 12 Sure Start Children’s Centres throughout the city, offering families with children under five years access to information and services including early education and childcare, child and family health services, family support – including help with parenting skills, help for parents to get back into employment and outreach service.
Because of government cuts, and other financial restraints placed on the Council, the budget for Children’s Centres in Westminster has been reduced by £715,614 for 2010-11.
The Council is proposing to keep all 12 Children’s Centres open – with three larger hub centres providing extensive services, and nine smaller centres offering fewer, but core, services.
It is proposed that 2010 / 11 will be an interim phase, with new arrangements fully in place from April 2012.
The Council is asking parents who use Children’s Centre services to give their views on the proposed changes.
The consultation ends on Friday 18 March.