Wolverhampton children's centres are saved in U-turn
All children's centres in Wolverhampton have been saved – but parents were today warned that charges will be introduced for childcare, some services reduced and jobs axed.
Wolverhampton City Council has scrapped its controversial proposals to shut nine of the city's 17 children's centres.
But it will remove the funding it currently provides to pay for the care of 74 children at four of the centres under new revised plans.
Currently, The Children's Village in Graiseley Lane, Wednesfield; Whitmore Reans Children's Centre in Lansdowne Road; St Martin's Children's Centre in Wallace Road, Bradley and Windsor Children's Centre in Parkfield Road all have child places part funded by the council.
There are three other centres that already charge to provide childcare.
The council first unveiled proposals to shut children's centres in February as part of cost-cutting plans to save £1.5 million.
As part of the revised plans, the equivalent of 17 full time managers and administrative staff would be axed and hours would be reduced at All Saints Children's Centre in All Saints, Sunbeam Children's Centre in Blakenhall and Star Children's Centre in Warstones will all have a reduction in opening hours if the schemes go ahead.
The council is also considering under its proposals to cut a variety of service a number of the sites will run. Rob Willoughby, Wolverhampton City Council's assistant director for community services said: "We are not trying to put these centres out of business. We are now saying it's not for the council to be paying for childcare. It's not for us to disturb the operation of these centres and we are going in and communicating with them on ways to improve the structure.
"I'd like to pay tribute to the management of the 17 children's centres who have worked tirelessly with council officers to come up with what we believe to be very workable plans which will safeguard services provided by the city's children's centres."
More than 6,000 children and their families rely on the 17 sites with council officials revealing birth rates in the city are on the increase.
The city council has extended its consultation process from four to six weeks with June 18 the deadline.
Until then people can have their say on the proposals by visiting www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/ccconsultation, emailing ccconsultation@wolverhampton.gov.uk, calling 01902 551464 or writing to: Children's Centres Consultation, Children's Commissioning Team, First Floor, Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton WV1 1RR. In addition, a series of public meetings are being proposed.
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