Councillors join forces to fight Sure Start mergers
ACTION Parents, staff and children from Sure Start release balloons as part of their ongoing campaign against planned cuts for the centre. Picture: Ian Hargreaves (111213-1)
SIX councillors have written to the chairwoman of Hampshire County Council demanding an extraordinary meeting to discuss proposals to merge children’s centres.
One independent and five Lib Dem politicians have sent letters to Cllr Carol Leversha calling for a full council meeting to raise concerns about plans for the centres.
The council proposes to cut the number of centres from 81 to 53 and tender out large clusters of centres to a single provider.
Ann Buckley, who represents Bedhampton and Leigh Park, said: ‘There are flaws in the consultation and outstanding issues that need to be discussed.
‘My constituents haven’t had an opportunity to ask questions at a public meeting.
‘There are concerns about plans to merge Park Futures and Sharps Copse which would change the catchment area and leave many Leigh Park parents being expected to go elsewhere.
‘I worry about the implications of the mergers, and how managers have been given no time to come up with their own solution to cost-cutting instead of factoring them out by tendering large clusters to single providers.’
The other councillors who have put pen to paper are Chris Thomas (Eastleigh), Brian Collin (Winchester), Alan Weeks (Totton), Jenny Radley (independent for Church Crookham) and Sam Darragh (East Hants).
Elyse Scott, who organised a balloon release at The Haven centre in Gosport this week to raise awareness of the Save Our Children’s Centres campaign, welcomed the councillors’ actions.
She said: ‘The idea of a single provider for several centres doesn’t make any sense.
‘Each centre has its own unique quality which is invaluable to the communities they serve – we want them to stay that way.’
Cllr Thomas, who has led calls for the executive meeting, said: ‘It’s time for the fog to be lifted and the views of the public to be heard. I hope the county listens.’
In a statement, Hampshire County Council said it would be responding to the councillors who have called for the meeting.
Meanwhile, Hampshire council leader Ken Thornber has cancelled a scheduled meeting with mum Becci Frost, 24, who uses the Oak Meadow centre, citing a legal challenge against the county as the reason.
Vickie Taylor, 30, a volunteer at Rowner, in Gosport, has enlisted solicitors to threaten the council with High Court action if it doesn’t withdraw the consultation.
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Comments
There are 13 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
zhengtthh
Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 01:30 AMComment removed by moderator
liverpoolboy
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 04:59 PM11,where is your evidence or maybe you a politician? :0)
Gosport View
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 04:42 PMThe officers at the Children and Young Peoples Select Committee this morning (Wednesday) were asked how many Children Centres will close after the consultation. The answer was 'none.'
liverpoolboy
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 03:50 PM81 to 53 I think that is minus. The councillors are doing their job, if it was Tory ones, you would not have the negative posters ,winging and whining in their usual way. ( Wait for it !) :0)
rickey
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 01:09 PMGosport View So are not making a political thing out of this then. You are obviously a Conservative (probably a Gosport Councillor). Are you saying that all these action groups have also got hold of the wrong end of the stick as well or would you like to accuse them of all being troublesome Libdems.
wizard of oz
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 12:31 PMThese people taking legal action, my guess is they are using tax payers money through legal aid and not their own. More money down the drain
wizard of oz
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 12:29 PMLast night people were moaning that they were paying too much tax, now other people are moaning about cuts. Looks like we are nation of moaners who are going down the pan.
Gosport View
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 11:39 AMRegarding the misrepresentations made by the Liberal Democrats and their stiring up trouble about the future of Children’s Centres....... The published County Council statement published says: "The County Council will not be closing 28 children Centres The Council has provided 81 Sure Start units across the County. It is the County Council intention to deal with the budget reduction for these units which are currently individually managed by merging the management arrangements so that small numbers of units will be managed from just 53 management centres, thus reducing the overall complement of managerial staff, and reducing the number of head office support staff for the project. Front line services from the units for children and their parents will continue as before." This has always been the position, it is shameful of Liberal Democrats who are using the matter for political advantage instead of working together to provide the best outcome. Edward Giles as usual completly misrepresents the truth for his narrow political puposes. Margaret Snaith has retired for family reasons and has done so in the proper, recognised manner. True to form, Giles could no doubt not resist making his snide remark.
sexy_alien852
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 10:46 AMsome conservatives are anti sure start cuts, but have been threatened with their jobs.... no labour councillors in my area as far as im aware... but councillors in my area have kept v quiet on the subject... even the so called family man Jack Englefield...
sexy_alien852
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 10:44 AMdon't be fooled, we've had alot of support from coucillors in Gosport... names i shall not mention... but you can find out who by checking out our fb group... Have Your Say; Children's Centre Consultation or www.socchampshire.org.uk Caroline Dinenage Gosport MP... well need anymore be said???? Showed her true colours in parliment the other week when she oublically made a fool of herself ny flirting with david cameron... she must be a very desperate woman... never trust a ting she says... She is everything that is wrong with parliment.
Edward Giles
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 10:35 AMI can't help noticing from the News list that it's only the Liberal Democrat and Independent Councillors who appear to be supporting the SureStart campaigners. Why are Labour silent? Haven't any of their County Councillors supported SureStart? We know the Conservatives want to cut the SureStart budget and merge or close many of the Children's Centres but what about Labour? How did their County Councillors vote on this?
Edward Giles
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 10:31 AMThe MP for Gosport showed her true colours by supporting Hampshire's SureStart cuts in the House of Commons last week. The councillors for Gosport appear to line-up as follows: For the cuts: Councillors Carter, Edgar, Geddes (all Conservative). Against the cuts and supporting the call for an Extraordinary Council meeting: Councillor Chegwyn (Liberal Democrat). The 5th County Councillor from Gosport, Councillor Snaith (Conservative), appears to have quit her seat and left Lee-on-Solent unrepresented.
liverpoolboy
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 09:21 AMWell done to the Councillors, people actually doing their job. Where are the Gosport ones in all this, or even the MP for Gosport?
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