Hundreds of people had their say about how Wolverhampton City Council could protect the popular services in the face of major Government funding cuts.
Now plans have been drawn up enabling Wolverhampton to continue to have 17 centres which will offer a wide range of services to children and their families.
The majority of the savings will be made by reducing management and administration costs, as the 17 centres will be managed across 8 larger areas, rather than individually.
While they will remain open, it is proposed that the operating hours of 5 children's centres - Sunbeam, All Saints, Star, Marshes and Parks - will be reduced slightly. In addition a subsidy which enables 4 centres to offer free childcare places at a reduced cost will be cut.
The consultation was launched in response to a reduction in the amount the council receives from the Government's Early Intervention Grant, which is used to fund the centres.
The grant is being reduced by nearly a third - or £3.88 million - over the next 2 years, and while the city council has managed to protect the £6.4 million per year service from some of the impact of this reduction, it has still been necessary to cut the budget by £1.5 million.
Councillor Val Gibson, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: "These proposals, which have been drawn up in partnership with the children's centres themselves, will enable the centres to continue providing an excellent service to children and their families in Wolverhampton - while also making the savings which are required of us.
"We've worked hard to come up with proposals which will protect, as far as possible, frontline services. Instead, we're seeking to reduce costs by co-ordinating the services, including their management and administration, across 8 larger areas, rather than from each children's centre as is currently the case.
"Most parents shouldn't notice a difference to the service they receive, and where we are proposing to reduce opening hours slightly, we'll ensure this happens when the children's centres are typically at their quietest.
"It's pleasing that, despite the fact that children's centres across the country are being forced to close, here in Wolverhampton we will continue to be able to provide services from the same number of locations."
`The proposals, which are due to go before Members of Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet on Wednesday (24 July, 2013) also include plans to withdraw funding for subsidised childcare at the handful of children's centres which still continue to offer it.
Seven centres currently provide childcare to working parents. Three charge fees which fully cover the running costs, while 4 charge lower fees and therefore require a subsidy from the city council to meet the running costs.
Councillor Gibson explained: "Though all our children's centres used to offer childcare, many stopped a few years ago when the Government changed their statutory requirements. However, 7 still offer this service, of which 4 receive a subsidy worth £200,000 per year. This effectively offers working parents who use these 4 centres discounted childcare which is not available to working parents in other parts of the city.
"Cleary this imbalance isn't fair on other parents who are expected to pay the full cost of their childcare and so, while we are happy for the children's centres to continue to offer childcare, we are proposing to withdraw the subsidy in the coming months. We will of course work closely to help affected parents and carers manage any changes to their childcare costs."
If the proposals are approved, changes to the children's centres are expected to be implemented during the autumn. In addition, the subsidy of childcare places will end by April 2014.
Councillor Gibson added: "I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has contributed towards this process. We've had to make some tough decisions in order to find these savings but I am confident that these proposals will enable us to continue to offer the best possible service to young children and their families in Wolverhampton."
- released: Wednesday 17 July, 2013