Reprieve for Recycyling Centres But Children’s Centres Doomed to Closure

Published on: 30 Jan, 2019
Updated on: 30 Jan, 2019

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

Surrey County Council appears to have buckled under public pressure and made a last-minute decision to delay closing recycling centres – but dozens of children’s centres will still be culled.

Thousands of people signed various petitions calling on the council to reconsider plans to close four community recycling centres in the county.

And just hours before they were due to decide on the future of the sites, a last-minute amendment was added to the council papers saying cabinet members had decided to delay the closure of the sites while they “sought alternative options to achieve savings”.

This means the CRCs at Bagshot, Cranleigh, Dorking and Warlingham will remain open for recycling material only until September 30 while other solutions are looked at.

If no other option is found then they will close the sites on October 1.

Boxgrove Children’s Centre

Thousands more signed petitions to keep the children’s centres open, but councillors continued with their plans and voted to close 31 sites, including two in Guildford Borough (see: Two Guildford Borough Children’s Centres to Close).

There will still be 21 open and a further nine satellite centres will be opening, while one mobile unit will be deployed for areas and communities who cannot get to a centre.

The service will be centred around outreach work of staff working more closely with families in their homes.

The public gallery was packed out at County Hall in Kingston on Tuesday, January 29 as cabinet members met to discuss the proposals put forward after the extensive consultations on five service areas.

Speaking about the u-turn over recycling centre closures, Conservative council leader Tim Oliver said delaying the changes will mean they can look at the Government’s waste strategy which was published just before Christmas and at their own waste plan.

But he warned: “Any changes must improve the sustainability and effectiveness of the service for residents. If we are to consider any closures in the future, it must be in this context.

“With children’s centres, it’s important to note the service is currently failing those who are most in need. The support isn’t getting to them early enough.

“The service has to be shaped around getting support to these families. Many of whom never use the service. Our focus must be on prevention and early intervention wherever possible and the proposed changes mean we can get those services right into the communities and into the homes of the families that need us the most.”

Petitions were presented by residents and community leaders before councillors debated and voted on each of the five service areas.

As well as changes to children’s centres and recycling sites, there will be a second round of consultation over the future of libraries, a draft SEND (Special Education Needs and Disability) strategy drawn up and companions of those with a free disabled person’s bus pass will be able to retain their concessionary travel. But times of use will be limited to between 9.30am and 11pm.

Other councillors were able to express their fears and pleas for reconsideration around children’s centres before cabinet members voted through all the recommendations as tabled.

Praising the work of officers and lead councillors, Cllr Colin Kemp, deputy leader of the council, said: “This is a change of leadership about listening to consultations. There has been a lot of hard work done in the last week to 10 days in pulling these recommendations together. I think it’s refreshing to see this change of approach where we are trying to listen while keeping our eye on the ball that we must deliver that balanced budget.”

The council leadership team will now start making preparations for the changes to be implemented by April 1.

Where further consultation is required, that will be carried out throughout the year.

Members voted to approve the budget set at £886.1 million which includes a council tax rise of 2.99%. This will be put forward to all members at SCC’s full council on Tuesday, February 5.

Responses to Reprieve for Recycyling Centres But Children’s Centres Doomed to Closure

Valerie Thompson Reply

January 31, 2019 at 8:55 am

When you pass the Dorking recycling depot there is a notice saying something like, “Due to large numbers of people using this depot, be advised that there will be queues.”

I am sure all the centres are well used. It seems absurd to consider closing them when there is such a demand and such a horrendous rise in fly-tipping. A huge load of builder’s waste was dumped last week in the middle of Shere Road in Clandon.

As for the children’s centres, it is telling that Tim Oliver admitted that care was not reaching the most needy. It is good that the county council is re-thinking its strategy to get help to those who do not attend the existing centres but could benefit from assistance. Perhaps their plans for getting advisors right into the community is a good policy.

Even though councillors voted to close 31 sites, presumably because these particular ones are under-used, it is reassuring that 21 are still open and a further nine satellites and a mobile centre will be added. This brings the effective number back to 31.