Bristol's proposed cuts will affect most vulnerable say union

Bristol City Council is proposing to save £1.2 million ahead of the new financial year

A trade union has warned that upcoming cuts to children's centres will impact the "most vulnerable families".

Bristol City Council is proposing to save £1.2m by reviewing the operation of children's centres and family services.

Council bosses have been urged to consult with staff from the centres, prior to making any changes.

A spokesperson from the council said the authority needs to ensure it has "long-term financial sustainability."

Children's centres across Bristol provide day care, family heath services, parenting support, help for children with special educational needs, home visits and benefits advice.

But the upcoming cuts could see reductions in staff numbers and buildings, with more services being delivered remotely.

During a three-hour full council meeting on Tuesday, councillors failed to approve the authority's budget for the next financial year, which starts in April.

'Reducing costs'

During a three-hour full council meeting on Tuesday, councillors failed to approve the authority's budget for the next financial year.

The consultation report on the budget gave some details ahead of the upcoming budget, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"The aim is to bring together more services that can be delivered from a range of different local venues and increase the amount of outreach work and online support we are able to provide, reducing the spend on buildings and staffing costs," the report said.

Lorraine Gaskell, from the GMB trade union, said: "We're quite alarmed at the way this is progressing.

"Our members have sent a number of really important questions to find answers on why the change is taking place, and more importantly how this is going to show the benefit that they're being told it will show," she added.

"There's a real fear among this workforce, not for their own jobs, but for the children and families they safeguard.

"These are the most vulnerable families in the city.

"Given the events in the city in recent months, it's more important than ever that early years intervention is valued, because that's what these children's centres provide," she added.

Vanessa Wilson, director of children and education transformation, said: "We will be consulting with all the workforce.

"All staff will have an opportunity to feed into that and put forward other proposals and suggestions," she explained.