Pomfret Childrens Centre

During the Labour Government's spree, WMDC got a government grant to set up and support a number of children's centres that have effectively been providing nursery, daycare and early year services alongside registered nurseries, daycare and child minder services. The government grant like many Labour Government grand schemes allowed the setting up but stopped after two years with councils expected to pick up the tab through the general rates. Most local authorities made other arrangements, Wakefield however funded the difference between the costs and the income from the rates. Pomfret Children's Centre along with three other council operated centres is now in jeopardy as Wakefield needs to use what was unallocated money on other projects and services.

We were advised that the council has been looking for an organisation to take this service on, had no success so at a Cabinet meeting on the 29th of November, the Labour members of the Cabinet will look at confirming a 6 week closure notice. They are already blaming pressures caused by Coalition Government grant cuts when in reality they sat on the situation until they have little alternative. Treating this in the relaxed way that they have as only made the situation critical now we are facing harder times as a result of Gordon Brown, Alastair Darling and Ed Balls running down the economy hand in hand.

The three South Ward Councillors were given an initial briefing last night and we asked some simple questions. "What is the shortfall?" "How much is that per child?" "Has anybody asked the parents what they think about offering them the chance to operate the centre or make a payment to bridge the gap?"

It would seem not. WMDC appear to have given little thought to finding a way forward and seem to want to drop this like a hot potato rather than finding a way for the centre to continue.

If the closure goes through parents would appear to have just six weeks to find alternative provision for 64 children and the jobs of the 12 centre staff would be in jeopardy.

The situation beggars belief!

Many have said for quite a while now that WMDC are running Pontefract into the ground and at times like these that does not sound so far fetched.

There will be a meeting for parents on Friday at 5pm at the St Mary's Center Chequerfield Circle so that we can try to find some sensible way forward.

The emerging sub plots are that it seems Family Services are urging the Council to close the centre and that the Cabinet is faced with that recommendation and apparently our MP is really keen to bang her government cuts gong, she would be better trying to come up with something meaningful for those impacted by her previous actions.