RELOCATION OF SERVICES FROM DALTON CHILDREN’S CENTRE TO TOWN CENTRE AND GREATER TARGETING OF RESOURCES WILL CUT OFF FAMILIES AND PLACE MORE CHILDREN AT RISK SAYS COUNCILLOR (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

RELOCATION OF SERVICES FROM DALTON CHILDREN’S CENTRE TO TOWN CENTRE AND GREATER TARGETING OF RESOURCES WILL CUT OFF FAMILIES AND PLACE MORE CHILDREN AT RISK SAYS COUNCILLOR

January 23, 2012 9:54 AM

Cllr Rochelle Parchment, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Dalton Ward, is fighting against Cabinet plans to move Children Centre services from Dalton Children Centre to a town centre location and the introduction of greater targeting of support saying that both moves will cut off families most in need resulting in more children ending up at risk.

The Council's Cabinet is just completing its consultation on proposals to change how services are provided from Children Centre across the borough. Under the proposals, the Council's 32 Children Centres would be split in to "Lead" and "Associate" centres. There would be 15 Lead Centres and 17 Associate Centres, with Lead centres providing more services while Associate centres would provide far less. Under the proposals, Dalton Children Centre would become an Associate to a Huddersfield Town Centre location.

Cllr Parchment cannot believe that Cabinet is proposing to take services out of Dalton which has high levels of need; an act she predicts would reduce the number of families reaching out to seek help.

Cllr Parchment also believes that the Cabinet's intention to "target" resources towards the most vulnerable or at risk children will eventually cost the council more as children on the brink of their criteria will be excluded from receiving support, increasing the chances of their becoming a pressure on services in the future.

Cllr Parchment said:

"I really can't believe that the cabinet are thinking of taking services out of Dalton. Other areas with the same or similar levels of need are keeping the full range of services at their local Children Centre. In these areas families and children will be able to access help quickly and easily while families and children in Dalton will be asked to travel to the other side of the Town Centre. I'm simply not happy about this at all, anyone who thinks this won't have an affect on the number of people accessing support isn't living in the real world. It's out of sight out of mind for many people."

"Also, what they are calling greater targeting of resources will effectively mean lots of children and families who need help will be excluded resulting in a greater chance of their becoming a burden on service when they are older. The cabinet's proposals are both being unrealistic and short sighted and I will be continuing to press the Cabinet to change their plans up to the wire."

Cllr Parchment is currently circulating a petition for presentation to Cabinet. She hopes that the number of signatories will reflect the strength of local opinion against the Cabinet's proposals.