Richmond has no designated Sure Start children's centres yet, but it has been set a phase two target by the Government to open nine children's centres by March 2008.
Two of them will provide the core offer, as they are in the 20 to 30 per cent most deprived wards, and seven will be 'flexible' centres in terms of provision, as they are in the 30 to 70 per cent least deprived areas.
Six centres are being developed on existing sites, but three are to be new-builds at Lowther Primary School in Barnes, Heathfield Infants in Richmond,and St Richard's in Ham.
The borough council said last week that unless it receives extra Government funding for these three school sites, it will have to 'rationalise' its children's centre plans. The council said it would continue to lobby the DfES for the extra funding.
The local authority's capital allocation of General Sure Start Grant funding for 2006/08 is 2,474,472.
The two children's centres planned for Richmond and Ham are in the 30 per cent most deprived areas of the country and the Barnes children's centre is in the 70 per cent least deprived.
A council spokesman said, 'Richmond is required to develop nine children's centres by March 2008. Through careful consultation with our partners, residents and stakeholders, we identified three areas where new buildings were required. The children's centre capital programme consultants, employed by the DfES to oversee the children's centre initiative, supported Richmond's request for additional funding. Subsequently, however, the DfES has initially refused the funding.
'If Richmond does not receive the additional funding, then the council will have to rationalise its plans for children's centres in the borough.'
A DfES spokesman said that the Government had now given local authorities 813m from the General Sure Start Grant for 2006/2008 to support the roll-out of children's centres and that there was no more funding available.
The spokesman confirmed that the DfES had received a request from Richmond-upon- Thames Council for extra capital funding on top of its capital allocation of 2.4m to deliver nine centres.
He said, 'On the DfES's behalf, capital consultants carried out a capital programme review of Richmond's planned projects and provided feedback to both Richmond and the department on the value for money and fitness for purpose on individual projects, but not on overall affordability.
'However, they have offered to provide additional support to help Richmond look at alternative options or to revise existing projects which would enable them to keep within their budget allocation.'
Liz Railton, director of Together for Children, the consortium that has been contracted by the DfES to support local authorities in the planning and delivery of children's centres, said, 'We want to work with the particular circumstances of every local authority and support them in working towards their children's centre targets with the resources that are available.'
MP for Richmond Park, Susan Kramer, told the Richmond and Twickenham Times newspaper last week that she had written to children's minister Beverley Hughes calling for a meeting to discuss the funding issues to help get the children's centre plans back on track.
Speak to Liz Railton, Together for Children 07718 195 446 Emailed DfES for comment A DfES spokesman said:
"The Government has given local authorities significant capital funding of 813 million General Sure Start Grant for 2006-08 to support the delivery of Sure Start Children's Centres. All of this has been allocated to local authorities, and there is no further funding available. DfES received a request from Richmond Council for extra capital funding on top of their capital allocation of 2.4m to deliver 9 centres. On DfES's behalf, capital consultants carried out a capital programme review of Richmond's planned projects and provided feedback to both Richmond and the Department on the value for money and fitness for purpose on individual projects, but not on overall affordability. However, they have offered to provide additional support to help Richmond look at alternative options or to revise existing projects which would enable them to keep within their budget allocation."
How much funding has Richmond received for children's centres?
"LB Richmond upon Thames' capital allocation of General Sure Start Grant funding (GSSG)for 2006-08 is 2,474,472."
Also it isn't clear whether the shortfall is for plans for children's centres in the 30 per cent most deprived wards?
"LB Richmond upon Thames have indicated that the Heathfield/ Whitton and Ham children's centres are in 30% most disadvantaged areas, and the Barnes children's centre is in a 70% least disadvantaged area."
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