Plans to reshape Children’s Services for Cambridgeshire given go ahead

Plans to focus funding on increased outreach services for children and families in Cambridgeshire have been given the green light by Cambridgeshire County Councillors.

The proposals, which look to transform Children’s Centre services from next April, will be funded by reducing spend on building maintenance.

Councillors voted 31 to 22 to support the plans which hope to create a more flexible, targeted and responsive service delivered from 27 buildings supported by increased outreach services.

The decision followed a debate on the response to a ten week consultation from 2280.

The reviewed plans now include more outreach services sited in areas across the county, including the southern part of Cambridge City. The change will see £100,000 of a planned £1 million saving re-invested in the service.

Following the change £4.3 million will continue to be spent on the new Child and Family Centre services, complementing Early Help services from the council, which have an additional budget of £7.2 million.

Simon Bywater, chairman of the Children’s Committee, said: “We have listened carefully to what people have been saying during the consultation and I want to reassure people we will continue to listen as we begin to implement these proposals. I recognise that feelings have run high during this debate, but I now call on all councillors, partners and communities to come together to help take these plans forward so we can fulfil the ambition of creating a service for more families to get the right help, at the right time and in the right place.

“Today’s decision means we remain heavily committed to early intervention for families, something we believe is essential. The new service is intended to be embedded alongside our district early help teams, health and other community services providing a flexible, targeted and responsive service in order to meet the needs of a rapidly changing and growing county.”

Samantha Hoy, vice chairman of the Children and Young People Committee, said: “Children’s Centre Services across the country are changing to help them meet the needs of our most vulnerable families, who remain our top priority. Our plans are very much in line with those of other counties who, like us, also have reducing budgets for a whole range of services where demand continues to grow. The council is sending a strong message to government that the long-term underfunding of large rural counties like ours cannot continue as part of our fairdeal4Cambs campaign.”