This consultation is open and will run until 10 January 2016.
The County Council is proposing to remodel the way it delivers children's services in Oxfordshire in order to save £8 million (over 50%) from the current budget.
The County is proposing to reduce the current total of 44 Children's Centres and 7 Early Intervention Hubs to only 8 Children and Family Centres, to be located in the neediest areas of Oxfordshire (Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester, Didcot, Oxford City (3). and Witney).
The County Council will either substantially reduce or no longer provide universal services (such as Stay and Play Sessions, or Youth Open Access Activities). Services are likely to be restricted to children in need (as defined by the Children Act 1989), children on child protection plans and those identified as vulnerable through the Thriving Families programme.
The County Council is hoping that community groups will mobilise themselves to take over some of the services currently provided by the Children's Centres which are under threat on a voluntary basis, in much the same way that many smaller libraries were "taken on" by their communities several years ago.
You can HAVE YOUR SAY on these proposals by:
Attending a public meeting - there are 3 scheduled to take place in November - information here.
Completing the online survey (or responding by post) which you can find here.