THE last remaining children's centres in Swindon could close next year as Swindon Borough Council seeks to save almost £20 million.

In April seven other centres shut as the council faces increasing funding pressures and it has now announced the last five are under threat.

The centres, located at Parks, Pinehurst, Gorsehill, Moredon and Drove, offer services to families with youngsters and serve a comparatively high number of children classed as vulnerable.

During the last round of closures, council chiefs said these centres would be protected but now they argue a better service can be offered by allocating reduced funding differently.

Instead, around £600,000, half the current budget, will be spent increasing the number of midwives and developing an Early Help Team based at Penhill.

The council say this is because children centres are not having the desired impact and by going directly into homes more support can be given.

Any new service would focus on vulnerable children under two but also offering support to children up to school age.

No final decision has been made but the proposals will go out to consultation later this month before a final decision is made early next year.

Council leader David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick) said: “Fundamentally this is about getting the best use of money by focusing where it is needed.

“As the others have closed there has not been an increase in demand for children’s social care. In fact, at Butterflies in North Swindon which is no longer a children centre, we have seen improved services.

“The evidence is that children centres are not best way of making a difference so we are targeting the money in a more effective way. We are not reaching the most vulnerable children at the moment.

“We are making a commitment to health visitors and we are committing the resources needed.”

It is expected the buildings will be taken over by nearby schools and then become nurseries. A requirement would be added that parent and child sessions for new-borns to two-year-olds are provided.

“None of the buildings will be left empty and there will still be a service for families operating out of them,” said Coun Renard.

“We are decommissioning the centres but not the service. I know some people will not be happy but this is not about buildings. It is about making sure we have the best service to help vulnerable children.”

No news has been announced on possible changes to staff numbers but Coun Renard has said there is a chance some will be redeployed.

The Leader of the Labour Group, Councillor Jim Grant (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney) said: “This proposal is, in effect, the council shutting its doors to vulnerable young people in Swindon and  any talk about the Conservatives being compassionate would end with this decision. The administration have broken previous promises about keeping these children centres open and are now saying Children Centres are ineffective after having previously praised the work of children centres.

"From a purely financial perspective I think this decision is terribly short-sighted. Evidence has proven that Children’s Centres can prevent young families from reaching a crisis point which is when vulnerable families are most expensive to local authorities. So if the Council fails to support families who might fall in to crisis then it can ultimately be very costly for the local authority."