Call to close children's centres to be debated

The decision to close 18 children's centres in Leeds will be debated next week

Council leaders could be asked to re-consider their decision to close 18 children's centres in Leeds.

Opposition councillors have launched a formal challenge to the Labour-run authority, which would save the city council £2.45m.

The authority, which needs to save more than £100m this financial year to deliver a balanced budget, said some centres were underused because of falling birth rates.

But concerns were raised over the evidence used to justify the closure plan, with opposition councillors labelling the consultation and advice given to the executive board "inadequate".

Following a "call-in", the decision will be debated by the council's children and families Scrutiny Board on 4 November, and could see it reversed.

The call to press ahead with a re-organisation of family services was made at a meeting on 15 October.

Defending the move, the council said Leeds would still have 31 children's centres - more than other comparable cities.

Opposition councillors said it was not clear how alternative provision would be found, or how the cost savings would be achieved.

"The clarity of the aims and desired outcomes remains unclear," they added.

Mark Dobson, of Garforth and Swillington Independents, said: "If consultations are to serve any purpose, it must be to inform the decision makers. This has not happened."

The children's centres review included plans to de-register six centres not currently in use and provide more online services, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The council said the shake-up was based on a detailed assessment of families' needs.

At the scrutiny meeting, councillors could decide to refer the closure decision for re-consideration, or press ahead with the plans.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.