Future of Leicester children's centre buildings at risk

Leicester City Council has launched a public consultation into the plans

A number of buildings that house children's centres in Leicester could close under new cost-cutting plans.

Leicester City Council, which runs 12 children's centres across the city, said it was looking to save about £550,000 a year in the running costs of the centres.

People have been invited to have their say until 9 June.

Deputy mayor Sarah Russell said it was important to see how the potential changes would affect users.

The public consultation into the council's plans to close some of the existing buildings was opened on 13 May.

The authority said the centres offer a range of services in the community to help parents and carers, aiming to give their child "the best start in life".

Highfields, in Barnard Close, houses one of the city's 12 children centres

In a statement, Ms Russell has said the "reality" is the council is in the "worst financial position" it has ever faced.

"Unfortunately, that means making some very difficult decisions about how we fund our early years services over the next few years," she said.

"Lots of local families really value and benefit from the advice, activities and support on offer at the city's children, young people and families centre.

"We need to understand how any potential changes will affect families that use our children's centres - and which alternative venues could work - before we make any decisions about closing centres.

"That's why it's important that people let us have their views by taking part in this consultation."

In 2017, Leicester City Council said the number of local children's centres was reduced from 23 to 12.

The authority said the move was due to national cuts in the government grant that funded them.