As part of an announcement made last Thursday, the local authority said that no children's centre would have its budget cut by more than 11 per cent and that the funding cuts were less than 6 per cent in areas which have the greatest need.
Jenny Whittle, cabinet member for specialist children's services, said, 'In other areas of the country, local authorities have decided to close children's centres following substantial government funding reductions. I don't think this would have been right for Kent.'
She added, 'There are more than 90 centres in the county, providing a wide range of important services that are highly valued by local residents. We have listened to parents and those expecting children, who have told us how much they treasure these centres. Previously, they had dedicated government funding. This funding is now part of a wider grant, which has been reduced, so we have had to look at how we can do things differently with less money. Our priority is to maintain frontline services where they are needed most.
'I pledged in February, when the budget was first discussed, that no one centre will have a reduction of more than 11 per cent, and I have kept to this. Some areas, where the need for these essential one-stop shops is greater, have had a reduction of less than 6 per cent'.
A group of parents from London created an ad hoc creche outside City Hall on Friday as part of a protest against cuts of more than £5.4m to children's services by Westminster Council.
The parents, part of campaign group Save Our Children's Services (SOCS), want the council to dip into its reserves of £11m instead of making the cuts.
A spokesperson for the group said, '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 others'.