CHILDREN’S Centres across the borough are set to share services in a bid to save money, under new proposals.
Plans to pair up eight of the centres, which support young families, so they can share staff and other resources were approved at last week’s cabinet meeting.
Council leaders now plan to roll out this ‘cluster’ scheme across the borough, pairing up the remaining 10 children’s centres, subject to consultation.
The first centres to be linked will be Chiswick and Dukes Meadow, Heston and Norwood Green, Hounslow Town and Lampton, and Feltham Hill and another yet to be decided.
Council officers estimate linking the first eight centres will save £375,000 a year, with more savings to follow if the scheme is extended.
It will mean the loss of 11 posts, all of which are currently vacant, but only one activity a week is expected to go between each pair of centres.
Children’s Centres provide a number of services for families with children aged under five, from play sessions for the youngsters to training and employment advice for parents.
They were introduced in 2004 to give children from all backgrounds a better start in life and there are now more than 3,600 across the country.
