Children's centres review
Last updated: 16 April 2013 13:07 UKConsultation on children's centres review
Our consultation on the future of children's centres ended on 13 March, and we're now analysing the results.
We're very grateful to everyone who filled in a survey, sent in a comment or went to one of our drop-in sessions. We held 19 sessions all over the city, at all kinds of times, to try to suit everyone.
We received a lot of very helpful and constructive feedback from parents, carers and groups, expressing a range of views. Around 730 surveys were filled in.
Thank you for your thoughtful, useful responses.
Once council officers have analysed all your feedback, they will present a report to councillors, who will make a final decision.
At the moment the report is due to go to the council's cabinet, probably on 3 June. Councillors will make decisions based on all sensible feedback received with a view to getting the best value from the budget available.
Like all local authorities, Portsmouth City Council is facing substantial cuts to the grant it receives from the government and has to make some tough choices about where to make savings.
Cllr Rob Wood, Cabinet Member for Childrens Services, said: "The consultation has finished, and we're very grateful for what everyone has said. We'll shortly be using the information to guide our decision-making.
"Overall we're seeing an increase in funding for very young children in Portsmouth.
"But the government has moved money away from children's centres, towards providing more day-care places for two-year-olds.
"And all parts of the council have to deal with the government's challenge to make savings.
"We believe in children's centres and know they're important to local people. But services have to be good value for money.
"We have to concentrate on services, not buildings, and the families who will benefit most from support."
