Warwickshire's Children's Centres - The Way Forward

Liberal Democrat members of Warwickshire County Council have published proposals to resolve the deadlock over the future of the County's 39 children's centres.

Cllr John Whitehouse (Kenilworth Abbey), Lib Dem group spokesperson for Children & Young people, said:

"We supported the call-in of the Cabinet decision on 12th September because we did not believe it to be soundly based, but we're acutely aware that the clock is ticking. Ahead of the Call-In meeting on the 26th, therefore, we've put forward our proposals for the way forward, which hopefully the other political groups will be willing to get behind."

The Lib Dem seven-point plan is as follows:-

• 1. Conduct a further, short (1 month) consultation with all affected groups in the areas where the Option 1 proposals now differ from those consulted on previously - to give everyone the equal opportunity to comment on the revised proposals.
• 2. Use the same period of time for further detailed discussions with affected groups in all areas, to define more clearly how the new grouping/collaboration models would work in practice and to address more of the recommendations of the O&S Select Committee.
• 3. Address the potential impact of the proposals on WCC's ability to deliver the Warwickshire Child Poverty Strategy, in particular Priority 2 (Intervening early to break the cycle of poverty) and Priority 3 (Improving financial capability and financial awareness).
• 4. Address the issues raised on behalf of WCC's nursery schools (Early Years Teaching Centres), that the proposals jeopardise their nationally-acclaimed role of providing integrated 2-4 year olds education, the full children's centre core offer and specialist educational and medical needs under one roof.
• 5. Demonstrate that the proposals are more than a short-term fix of a financial problem, but will provide a sustainable future for all of Warwickshire's children's centres.
• 6. Identify the key risks (including financial risks) arising from the implementation of the proposals, and the actions and contingencies which can minimise these risks.
• 7. Bring a revised report back to Cabinet as soon as possible, including the results/outcomes of the six actions identified above.

Note: The agenda and papers for the meeting of the Children's & Young People Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 26th Sep can be found here.