Campaigners create ad hoc creche outside City Hall - SOCS protest at job cuts to child services staffing

Published: 15 April 2011
by JOSH LOEB

CAMPAIGNERS with children in tow created an ad hoc crèche on the pavement outside City Hall on Friday in protest at cuts to children’s services.

The council is not closing any of its day centres, which provide specialist services like speech therapy, but it is cutting the funding it provides to them, meaning some redundancies.

Activists from Save Our Children’s Services (SOCS) say they want the council to use part of its £11million reserves to ensure there are no such cuts.

Around 30 people joined Friday’s demonstration, armed with banners and placards – and balloons and bubble mix to keep the young ones happy. 

A SOCS spokesman said: “Many local residents don’t accept the argument that these cuts simply must be made. 

“While it may be true that central government is making cuts to local authority grants, it remains the case that in Westminster there is money for some things but not for others.”

Councillor Nickie Aiken, Westminster Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “I am a great advocate of children’s centres and believe they play a crucial part in improving the lives of families across the community. 

“Unlike a number of other local authorities, we are not closing a single children’s centre. We will reduce management and back office costs to protect front-line services. 

“However, we are all too aware of the savings local government has to make in the current climate and changes will have to be made. 

“We have taken account of what parents told us during the consultation and will feed back on how it has influenced our recommendations. 

“We will continue to involve parents in helping to shape the new service in the months ahead.”

• Pictured is two-year-old Jessica Lawrence holding a placard at the demonstration.