Will cuts cause Bucks children's centre closures?

File photo dated 11/06/13 of a general view of notes and coins as parents face a growing struggle as the cost of bringing up a child has risen to Â£148,000, research found. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday August 19, 2013. The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) said that the cost of raising a child to the age of 18 has gone up by 4% over the last year. But the value of benefits for families and children only rose by 1%, and child benefit did not rise at all, tightening the squeeze on living standards. At the same time minimum wages rose 1.8% and average earnings by 1.5%, making it harder for parents to provide a decent standard of living for their families. See PA story SOCIAL Poverty. Photo credit should read: Rui Vieira/PA Wire ENGEMN00120130819081609

The new Families Support Services review comes after the council agreed one of its most challenging budgets ever, which included the need to find further savings and efficiencies of around £53m across all services over the next four years.

The review will focus primarily on the role of the 35 children’s centres across the county, the services they provide and the impact they make in helping children develop and families avoid the need for social care support in the future.

Cabinet member for education and skills, Zahir Mohammed said he was looking for a future model for the centres that both saved money and better targeted the people that would really benefit from the support they provide.

He said: “Our children’s centres are extremely popular in their local communities but it’s my job to make sure that they deliver services that are focussed on those children and families who really need help.

“We face difficult decisions, but if we don’t provide a more targeted service, we won’t achieve the savings we need to make - this is the reality of the difficult budget decisions the council had to make back in February. A do-nothing approach is not an option.”

He added: “At this early stage I can’t rule out options which might include possible closures in some areas, however I will ensure we explore all the different ways that they could continue going forward.”

The review will include looking at variations in need across the county and how these could be better met, good practice nationally and globally, how buildings could be better used and how savings and more income could be made. The review will also take account of the views of users and professional providers.

An initial review report is expected later in the year.