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Axe falls on Barnet's Phase Three children's centres

Funding is set to be withdrawn from all Phase Three children's centres in the London Borough of Barnet after cost-saving proposals were approved by a council cabinet meeting last week.

The eight Phase 3 centres are now to become 'venues' for childcare and early intervention services, which the council plans to commission out to the PVI sector as part of its bid to save £2.69m.

The remaining 13 Phase One and Two children's centres will continue to offer full services as well as outreach sessions to help minimise the impact of the loss of the Phase Three settings.

A consultation on the proposals closed on 7 February. Councillor Andrew Harper, cabinet member for children's services, said the plans would protect the 'most in need' and extra cash would be allocated.

He added, 'Our budget proposals include £2.5m in new investment in children's services. Of this £1.5m is to going to meeting the demographic pressures the borough is facing, with more children being referred to children's services.

'I believe these are the right priorities to deliver. We've created budget proposals thinking about our priorities and where we need to be spending our money.'