Cabinet Members will be asked to consider the future of the borough’s children’s centres provision

Cabinet Members will be asked to consider the future of the borough’s children’s centres provision at a meeting later this month (17 November).  

Consultation into the future of the centres began in July as part of a wider consultation on proposed necessary savings. The consultation ended last month.

More than 3,700 people commented on the proposals.

Following the analysis of the consultation responses, the Cabinet is being asked to approve a proposal that will see a range of other children’s centre options developed for further consultation next year.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services Cllr Philip Read said: “I believe this consultation has been extremely successful and am pleased to say that there was a high level of responses received which clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the Council’s efforts to maximise community engagement.

“It is right too to acknowledge the efforts of others, including members of the public, who went out of their way to encourage and maximise participation in the consultation. We naturally appreciate and value their involvement.

“Whilst we in Bexley, as with all local authorities, must make difficult decisions in the current financial climate, we will always want to listen to our residents. We want to find a model for the service that will continue to provide services to our most vulnerable families.”

If the Cabinet agrees, a range of options will be looked at before a further consultation with residents, partners, staff and all stakeholders begins in the spring.

The Cabinet meeting papers are available online here – https://democracy.bexley.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=149&MId=29254.

The meeting will be available to view here – https://bexley.public-i.tv/core/portal/home.

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