Senior councillors are expected to approve launching a public consultation over plans to reorganise the city’s children’s centres in a bid to save £2.45 million.
As reported by WLD in February, council chiefs have been carrying out a review of all 56 centres in Leeds.
A report to be considered by councillors on the executive board next Wednesday (18 June, 1pm) says the council is proposing to push ahead with the proposals and would like to launch a public consultation into the proposals later this year.
It says a consultation to be carried out later this year will be based on a proposal to reorganise the Children’s Centres from the current 18 groups into seven groups aligned with the existing seven family hubs.
The seven groups would include:
It will also look at alternative methods of service delivery, including enhanced digital and on-line services and delivery of services from a smaller number of buildings.
The report says: “The review is driven by improvement in service, meeting the needs of our stakeholders and operating in accordance with overriding legislation and relevant codes of practice.
“It is felt that this proposed change would support and aid effective communication, including referral pathways for families, between centres in the seven localities and reduce the risk of duplicating service offers in venues in close proximity.”
The council claims the proposal will see less reliance on standalone venues, and will see services centred around multi-use buildings and community spaces in collaboration with partners and the third sector, including schools.
As reported in April, a series of new ‘family hubs’ have been launched across Leeds to bring together a wide range of services for people to access help more easily. These include Armley and Horsforth.
The full executive board agenda and reports can be read here.
WLD is following ongoing council cuts, closures, building sales and reaction in our Cutswatch series of articles.