Cabinet approves closure of 20 children’s care centres

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Wednesday, 26 September 2018 21:12

By Emily Lloyd - Local Democracy Reporter

Concerns over the closure of 20 children’s centres across Shropshire will be “almost irrelevant”, according to the councillor behind the move.

Cllr Nick Bardsley, portfolio holder for children and young people, today said early help services would be available in family homes.

It comes as Shropshire Council’s cabinet approved plans to close 20 centres and replace them with seven hubs in Oswestry, Ludlow, Whitchurch, Bridgnorth, Market Drayton and two in Shrewsbury.

Cllr Bardsley said: “Many buildings are rarely used and it costs £300,000 keeping these buildings open. Some centres are open one morning a week for a couple of sessions, and that is only during term-time – other than that they are completely unused.

“But through these changes we will be delivering not in the bases but in people’s own homes. The fact some people may not live near one of the proposed hubs is going to be almost totally irrelevant.

“I make no apology that this is going to save money and hopefully it will be nearer to £1 million than £875,000. It is much better to spend money helping families in need and not on empty buildings.”

The changes have been subject to two public consultations with around 500 responses and 25 consultation events.

Cllr Bardsley said some had been well attended while others had no attendance at all.

He also said work would be progressing to ensure all services were available following concerns raised by Councillor Heather Kidd that maternity services in particular are not always available in her Bishops Castle division.

Cllr Bardsley continued: “We are hoping to have all other services embedded in each of the hubs.

“It hasn’t happened across the county but it will happen – some are just taking more time.”

Karen Bradshaw, director of children’s services, added: “It is a reasonable point but we are trying to create opportunities in the local community for interventions to take place.”

But the move came in for criticism from Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of the Labour group, who described it as “hypocrisy and double standards”.

He said: “This is clearly one of the results of austerity and cuts.”

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