Council officials tight lipped about results of user survey
Six of York’s nine Children Centres could close under options put forward by the Labour Council.
Council consultation leaflet click to enlarge
Current users were surveyed during August on their preferred future for the centres.
The options on offer were
- Three centres (The Avenues, Clifton and Hob Moor) would remain open during the whole of the year while the other 6 centres would operate with reduced opening hours
- Six children’s centres would remain open with Clifton, The Avenues and Hob Moor closing permanently
- Three centres would remain open (The Avenues, Clifton and Hob Moor) with the others closing (or being taken over by “volunteers”)
- All the Children’s Centres would be ruin by volunteers or hived off to local schools or the private sector
The Consultation closed on 26th August but so far Council officials have declined to reveal the results of the consultation.
Sadly this process is all too familiar to York residents with decisions being taken behind closed doors and little opportunity for the community at large to express their views.
Hob Moor Children’s Centre future unclear
No doubt the Councils panacea for all problems – ditch services and hope that “volunteers” will take on the burden – will emerge as the favoured option.
With millions of pounds having been invested in Sure Start (which originally enjoyed Labour Government support) it is little short of tragic that the programme is now in jeopardy.
The York Childrens Centres gained a national award for excellence only last year.
The 9 Sure Start children’s centres are (click for details):