FAMILIES concerned about planned changes to Staffordshire children’s centres are being urged to meet bosses faceto- face.
Council-run childcare places at the centres could be ditched and managements merged at the sites in a bid to save £800,000.
Children’s centres provide a range of services, including childcare, training and mother and baby support groups, but nationally have been hit by Government funding cuts, leaving many forced to slash services.
But Staffordshire County Council wants to buck the trend and has drawn up proposals which it claims will cut red tape and save cash.
There are nine children’s centres in Stafford and Stone and one in Rugeley, as well as one in Brewood.
The authority has launched a consultation to get parents’ views, which will include face-to-face sessions throughout the county until March 11.
There will be a session at Silkmore Children’s Centre tomorrow, 10.30am - 11.30am and at Hixon on Monday, 2pm - 3pm.
Further sessions will beheld throughout the month.
County councillor Mike Lawrence, cabinet member for children’s wellbeing, said: “It is crucial that we get as much feedback as we can from residents so we can shape and tailor the children’s centres to reflect local need. The face-to-face sessions are an ideal way for people to ask any questions they have about the proposals and also to put their views forward.
“This is part of an ongoing and constant process of reviewing the way that we operate to ensure that we are running the county as efficiently and effectively as we can.” The consultation is available from 0300 111 8000 or at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/ childrenscentreconsultation
