{"id":526938,"date":"2025-10-25T12:08:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T12:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/526938\/"},"modified":"2025-10-25T12:08:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T12:08:12","slug":"challenge-to-leeds-childrens-centres-closure-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/526938\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenge to Leeds children\u2019s centres closure plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Don Mort,<\/strong> local democracy reporter<\/p>\n

Council leaders could be asked to re-consider their decision to close 18 children\u2019s centres in the city.<\/p>\n

Opposition councillors have launched a formal challenge to a reduction in the number of centres to save Leeds City Council \u00a32.45m.<\/p>\n

The council\u2019s executive board decided to press ahead with a re-organisation of family services at a meeting on October 15.<\/p>\n

The council, which must save more than \u00a3100m this financial year, said some centres were underused because of a falling birth rate.<\/p>\n

Children\u2019s centres facing closure in West Leeds include Burley Park, Farnley, Farsley and Pudsey.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Historic centres in Hollybush and Kirkstall \u2013 where services are not currently provided \u2013 would also be among a further six across the city to be de-registered.<\/p>\n

The council would continue to provide centralised services at 31\u00a0children\u2019s centres to maintain a universal and citywide offer of support for families. In West Leeds these would be at Armley Moor, Bramley, Little London, Horsforth, Swinnow and Hawksworth Wood.<\/p>\n

Leeds would still have 31 children\u2019s centres, more than other comparable cities, the council said.<\/p>\n

But concerns were raised over the evidence used to justify the closure plan.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now a \u201ccall-in\u201d of the decision will be debated by the council\u2019s children and families Scrutiny Board on November 4.<\/p>\n

Led by councillor Mark Dobson, of Garforth and Swillington Independents, the call-in request said:\u00a0\u201cIf consultations are to serve any purpose, it must be to inform the decision makers. This has not happened on this occasion.\u201d<\/p>\n

The councillors said the consultation and professional advice put to executive board was \u201cinadequate\u201d.<\/p>\n

It was not clear how alternative provision\u00a0would be found, or how the cost savings would be achieved, they said.<\/p>\n

Their request said: \u201cThe clarity of the aims and desired outcomes remains unclear.\u201d<\/p>\n

The children\u2019s centres review included plans to de-register six centres not currently in use, and provide more online services.<\/p>\n

The council has said the shake-up was based on a detailed assessment of families\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n

At the scrutiny meeting, councillors could decide to refer the closure decision for re-consideration, or release it for implementation.<\/p>\n

A report to the meeting said: \u201cThe call-in process provides the facility for the Scrutiny Board to require a decision taker to reconsider a decision within a specified period.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sponsored content<\/p>\n

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