News

Children's centres and youth service cut by £1.7 million in budget

By Jon Nurse
February 25, 2013

Children's centres and the borough’s youth service are the biggest losers in the budget as £1.7 million must be saved over the next three years.

A review of the services is expected to be approved by the borough council’s decision-making executive tomorrow in a shake-up to slice £6 million from Wokingham Borough Council’s budget.

Charlotte Haitham Taylor, executive member for children’s services, said: “We have got to be more focused. The key theme is to move away from overall services which a lot of centres are offering where anyone can come in. It’s instead going to be much more targeted.”

Graham Ebers, strategic director of resources, added: “It’s part of the general view of being responsible.

“We have to use less money in a more responsible way.

“Rather than cutting wholesale services in an arbitrary manner it’s about focusing at the point where it is of most value for the community.”

Andy Couldrick, council chief executive, said: “We have to ensure the services we are delivering are to the families whose outcomes are likely to be poorer if they don’t receive anything from us.

“It avoids expensive interventions later on, whether that’s by us or the police.”

Despite the cuts, teenagers will benefit from a new centre training young people for work in IQ Winnersh, with £740,000 set aside in this week’s proposed budget.

The Aspire centre, which is set to open in September, will be set up as a modern workplace with a recording studio and dance and drama rooms.

Cllr Haitham Taylor added: “It’s going to be a fantastic opportunity for the children of the borough.”

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Most recent user comments 4 of 4

Kaz4 - can you say that again in plain English?

Phil Challis, woodley
27/02/2013 at 09:09

Don't forget the financial and ownership details of the Regeneration have been kept secret and our purchasing criteria is 80% quality and 20% so if a close friend and donor is given a 100% for quality and competative respected local but untested in large public contracts given 79% on quality we could and do end up paying multiples of what we would if it were our own money. Which it is. The routes to corruption are kept open. Why?

Kaz4Wokingham, Wokingham
26/02/2013 at 19:29

Good old Tories, whack the kids and the elderly.

Ironically, Wokingham's Tories have been whacked by, the Tories, who've cut their budget again, and so Wokingham's Tories whack the kids and the elderly, like they always do.

Megaman
25/02/2013 at 16:08

£100m to be spent on Wokingham Town Centre regeneration

£1.7m per year less on Children's services across the whole borough

Forgive me if I think Wokingham's Tories have the wrong priorities

We all agree that our towns need regenerating, but if the private sector do not want to do this is it really what you should be spending our council tax on?