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Campaigners opposed to the loss of children’s services at two Kent family centres are calling for the issue to be brought before the county council’s powerful scrutiny committee on the day the axe officially fell on both.
Cash-strapped Kent County Council (KCC) claims the loss of Seashells in Sheerness and Millmead in Margate will help the authority shave around £425,000 off the budget.
As expected, the cabinet member for integrated children’s services, Cllr Sue Chandler, today (January 17) approved the proposal not to re-commission services at both when the contracts end on March 31.
KCC plans to offer the same services at alternative locations but opponents claim they will not be suitable or even ready in time.
Sheppey independent Cllr Mike Whiting said Seashells is the model KCC should be adopting, not losing.
He said: “This is disgraceful and the KCC cabinet member should hang her head in shame.
”Seashells sees more people for less money than all the other centres in Swale put together. It is the model KCC should be reproducing elsewhere for Family Hub provision. Instead it will drag the services available in Sheerness down to the lamentable provision it offers elsewhere.
”The next step is to get this decision called in to KCC's Scrutiny Committee later this month, where I will have one last chance to argue the case and try to persuade the cabinet member to change her mind.
“Getting the decision called in does put it on hold, meaning it does not take affect just yet, but I fear the wheels behind the scenes will now be in motion.”
The issue came up before the council’s Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) Cabinet Committee yesterday.
Independent member Barry Lewis, who represents Margate, said KCC “Healthy Living” funding of £38,000 will keep Millmead open for the “foreseeable future” and is backing calls to bring the decision to the scrutiny committee.
He added: “We were pretty sure this was coming today. But hopefully when KCC is binned under the local government reforms, the new unitary authority will have the good sense to restore the services Millmead has been providing up until now.”
Cllr Whiting had been calling for the Seashells contract to be extended or to await for the outcome of local government reforms before making a final decision. Cllr Chandler argued an extension would pose “legal risks”.
Cllr Whiting said after the meeting but before today’s announcement: "Sue Chandler is riding roughshod over the concerns of the people who use and work at Seashells and Millmead as well as the wider community.
"She wants to cut the funding and she is determined to press ahead.
"Mrs Chandler said at the meeting that extending the Seashells contract to keep the centre open would 'present legal risks' but did not say what those risks are.
“And she has completely ignored the numbers which prove just how well used the centre is compared to other centres and what value for money it provides."
He added: "I want to be clear, I feel that any decision to cut funding to Seashells is to cut into the heart of the community here on Sheppey.
"The effect it will have on families and young people in need of help on Sheppey will be deeply felt.”
Cllr Whiting said he is unable to “call in” the proposal to scrutiny as he is a lone independent but thinks there may be two members from each political group willing to do so.
Cllr Whiting said there was a "huge amount of work" to do to prepare The Gateway facility, which will provide the services lost by Seashells, to make it suitable for use as a family hub from April 1.
At the time of the proposed funding withdrawal, a KCC statement said: “The financial challenge facing the council is well documented. KCC needs to deliver £108.8m…savings over the next two years by making changes to services that save money for the council whilst continuing to provide support for residents that need it.
“By not renewing these contracts KCC would save £426,000 and ensure a consistent approach to Family Hubs across all areas of Kent.”
Sue Chandler, Kent County Council (KCC) Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services, said: “After carefully considering all consultation feedback received alongside the council’s budget recovery plan and our existing in-house Family Hub model, I have taken the very difficult decision not to renew the contracts for the non-KCC Family Hubs at Millmead, Margate and Seashells, Isle of Sheppey, when they end in March.
“KCC is under critical financial pressures, now and in the future and like a lot of decisions the council is having to make at this time this was not easy, but I must ensure our services are equitable, efficient and effective for all Kent residents.
“Although KCC has recently welcomed just over £4m as Kent’s share of the government’s recently announced £126m national funding boost for early years support, this money is subject to strict spending and delivery requirements. We are awaiting full details of these from the Department of Education, but we know this money must be used to fund the core delivery aspects of our Family Hubs and must all be used within the next financial year only. Therefore, we are unable to consider this to commission ongoing services at Millmead and Seashells Family Hubs.
“I know this will be deeply upsetting for those who currently use these Family Hubs but I want to ensure them that we remain committed to providing all Kent’s children with the best start in life and continued support as they grow, and core Family Hub services will still be available from nearby KCC locations.
“Moving forward, we are in discussions with partners and the buildings’ owners around what future KCC outreach services could be delivered from there to support their local communities.”