Council to shut 18 children's centres in shake-up

A review of children's centres in Leeds includes plans to de-register six centres not currently in use

A total of 18 children's centres are set to close in Leeds after councillors decided to go ahead with a shake-up of family services.

At a meeting on Wednesday, Leeds City Council agreed to reduce to 31 the number of such centres it runs in a bid to help save £2.45m, arguing some were underused due to falling birth rates.

Helen Hayden, executive member for children and families, said it would make services more accessible and efficient.

Alan Lamb, leader of the city's Conservative group, criticised the move, saying it was a cut in services to save cash "dressed up as something else", but the Labour-run council said Leeds would still have more children's centres than other similarly sized cities.

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

'Inaccurate evidence'

According to the council, the planned shake-up was based on a detailed assessment of families' needs.

Hayden said the proposed closures "reflect the significant demographic change since the current network was established".

But Lamb challenged the evidence used to justify closing the centres, which provide services including breast feeding support and employment advice.

He said: "The way you are doing it, and going about it, is all wrong and the evidence base is inaccurate."

The authority's latest financial report shows it is already facing an overspend of almost £30m this year, despite needing to save more than £100m during the current financial year.

Lamb said: "Collectively we have got to get a grip on this situation and get the council's finances onto an even keel."

A council report said the needs of families had been prioritised, despite the funding shortfall.

It said: "Leeds continues to have the largest number of children's centres of any core city."

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