Decision being made today over future of Portsmouth children centres

The city council has proposed a re-structure of the service in a bid to save up to £200,000.

Council officers recommend that Portsdown, Drayton and Farlington Children’s Centre, North End and Willows Children’s Centre and Southsea and Brambles Children’s Centre be ‘de-designated’ as Ofsted-registered children’s centres.

Instead it has been proposed that the venues act as ‘clusters’ which will only be open for specific activities, rather than all the time as a drop-in centre offering support to families.

A community campaign, spearheaded by Cosham Tory activist Jim Fleming, has been running to protect the Portsdown site, which operates from Highbury Community and Children’s Centre.

Portsmouth Tory education boss Neill Young will make a decision over what should be done today.

The meeting takes place from 4pm at Portsmouth Civic Offices in conference room A.

The public is welcome to attend. Lib Dem, Ukip and Labour council representatives will be present.