Oxfordshire children's service staff in strike ballot

Protesters took to the streets in November over plans to cut £8m from children's services in the county

Children's services staff in Oxfordshire are to be balloted for strike action over proposed cuts.

Oxfordshire County Council plans to close 44 children's centres and seven early intervention centres to save £8m.

Union Unite says the plans will put 420 highly-skilled jobs at risk and vital support services are "at risk of vanishing altogether".

The council has said it will continue to support the most vulnerable families in the county.

A spokesman said: "The proposal is to create a brand new service absorbing the work of children's centres and the county council's Early Intervention Service.

"This would be based on a network of up to eight new children and family centres."

'Find alternative'

Union members will be balloted from Monday. The ballot closes on 5 February.

Councillors are due to meet on 16 February to vote on the proposals.

Unite regional officer Chris Gray said: "We are urging councillors to find an alternative solution to these damaging cuts and to vote against the proposals at the budget meeting on 16 February.

"The future of Oxfordshire's children's early intervention service is in their hands."

In November, protesters took to the streets to show their opposition to the cuts which are part of the councils efforts to save £362m by 2018.