CLAIMS Conservative-run County Hall wants to privatise children’s services have been dismissed by the group’s county leader.

Labour has criticised county council proposals to cut the number of centres from 24 to eight and claim a document reveals how private companies have been invited to express an interest in delivering early years services.

The party claims companies were invited to a ‘soft marketing’ event on September 26 where they were given an anticipated date of when the outsourced service contract would begin – April 1, 2019.

Councillor Leigh Redman, leader of Somerset County Council’s Labour Group, said: “This document reveals the hidden agenda behind the reorganisation of children’s centres and other services. 

“Labour has suspected for some time that the Tory desire for privatisation lay behind the plan to close children’s centres. It is now clear that the Conservative administration at County Hall wants to give up responsibility for children’s services and hand them over to the private sector.

“We have seen with adult education the disastrous effects outsourcing can have. Jobs are being cut and centres are being closed. Children’s centres were set up under Labour’s Sure Start programme and have helped many families. It is disgraceful that Somerset County Council wants to walk away from this vital work.”

Bridgwater Town Council agreed to write to Somerset County Council to object to the cuts at its meeting last week, and encouraged residents to take part in the consultation and drop-in event at Victoria Park Community Centre between 10.30am and 6.30pm on October 31.

The council voiced its concerns about Shire Hall’s proposals to provide support through community venues, in people’s homes and online – concentrating spending on services rather than running expensive buildings at a time when Government funding has been reduced.

But Councillor David Fothergill, leader of the Conservative Group on Somerset County Council, described the privatisation claims as “ridiculous.”

“It is quite disgraceful that party politics are being used by the Labour Party to unsettle hard working teams at such a crucial time, with the imminent arrival of Ofsted to inspect our children’s social care teams,” he said.

“There is not a shred of truth in this ridiculous ‘hidden agenda’ accusation – in fact it is virtually the opposite. I am so very disappointed I have asked for an urgent meeting with the opposition leader.”

The council aims to join-up the Getset service (which includes centre support for 0-four-year-olds and for families with children aged 0-19) with the support offered by health visitors and school nurses. 

These eight centres would act as main ‘hubs’ for services and coordinate the work in the surroundings area. The other 16 buildings that currently have Sure Start Children’s Centre status would continue to offer early childhood services including education and nursery places to help meet the demand for spaces.