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30/01/12 Consultation on changes to Children's Centres - East Sussex

Families are to be asked for their views on some changes to Children's Centres in East Sussex.

Under the proposals services provided to families through Children's Centres would not be cut, instead the County Council is looking at merging some pairs of centres to ensure services are provided as effectively as possible and to reduce management costs.

Out of a total of 35 centres across the county, the County Council is looking at merging four pairs of centres.

However, no buildings are being shut and those that will no longer be stand alone Children's Centres will continue to provide community services.

Cllr Nick Bennett, the council's Lead Member for Learning and School effectiveness said: “This is not a cost-cutting exercise; however the proposals will prevent the need to appoint additional management posts. This is really about making sure all our Children's Centre buildings are fit for purpose, are in the right place, and can all really provide the best range and quality of facilities and services for young families.

"All families who currently receive services from our Children's Centres will continue to do so, and the vast majority of centres will not be affected in any way by these proposals. For a relatively small number of families it may mean services are delivered from a different location but it will be from better buildings with better facilities. Families will not have to travel much further to access the same services."

The pairs of centres that would be merged under the plan are:

• Eastbourne's West Rise centre would merge with Eastbourne Shinewater
• Robertsbridge centre would merge with Battle
• Pebsham would merge with Sidley
• Hailsham's Dunbar Drive centre would merge with Hailsham East Children's Centre.

Services from the West Rise centre in Eastbourne would be provided from Shinewater. Discussions are ongoing with West Rise Infant School but the intention is that the building will continue to be used by the nursery that uses the site and possibly other community activities.

Currently, Robertsbridge is not really a centre at all but is a hired room in the youth centre from which Children's Centre services are provided. This change would simply be a formality as the room would no longer be designated as a discrete Children's Centre; there will be no change to the services we provide from there.

Similarly the centre in Pebsham is a not a separate Children's Centre building but a former classroom at Pebsham School used to provide some Children's Centre services. The room would no longer be classed as a discrete Children's Centre but it is likely that it would continue to be used for community purposes and by the school.

Discussions are on-going about the Dunbar Drive building in Hailsham. The intention is it would continue to be used by the county council as social care resource centre and to support children in care. Children's Centre services would continue to be provided from Hailsham East Children's Centre and from the Diplocks Community Centre which is in a far more appropriate location.

No staff will lose their jobs as result of the proposed changes but a number of vacancies and additional posts will not have to be filled.

Cllr Bennett said: “I want to be very clear that these are not cuts to services, in fact the impact on services will be minimal. These proposals are about using our Children's Centre buildings more efficiently and effectively. There is a clear and reasonable rationale for each of the mergers we are proposing, especially for those smaller centres that are currently not really individual centres at all and not capable of providing the kind of services we want.”

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