COUNCILLORS have agreed to start work on a consultation process designed to save cash in the provision of children’s services.

Darlington Borough Council’s children’s and adults services department have announced the possibility it may have to shut its Haughton Children’s Centre as part of £1.399m worth of cuts being made across its remit.

The council currently operates five centres across Darlington in McNay Street, Skerne Park, Mount Pleasant, Dodmire and Haughton.

Members of the council’s cabinet committee were told that the consultation process could not rule out changes to the proposals but the new system would have a central main centre with off-shoots around the town.

Councillor Cyndi Hughes, the cabinet member for Children and Young People, assured members that no final decision could reached until after the six-week consultation process was completed.

She said: “What we are proposing is cycle and spoke model with one central hub and a number of satellites around the town.”

Within a council report published ahead of last night’s cabinet meeting, a proposed children centre model would see McNay Street becoming the borough’s main hub to deliver classes, group activities and clinics.

Skerne Park, Dodmire and Mount Pleasant Children’s Centres would become “satellite” facilities under the proposals recommended to cabinet members.

Council leader Bill Dixon said: “It’s a regrettable step having to pull the plug for centres in areas where parents needs these facilities.

“The government has reduced the funding so it has left us with no choice really.”

The Haughton Children’s Centre, off Salters Lane South, currently hosts weekly antenatal clinics, a parent-led creative group, baby activity group, children’s health clinic and breastfeeding café.

Consultation over its proposed closure and the reduction of services at Skerne Park, Dodmire and Mount Pleasant are set to include residents and stakeholders and would be completed via an online questionnaire.

Conservative group leader Cllr Heather Scott called for assurances that money could not be ‘clawed back’ from the government in the event of centre closures.

A date for the start of the consultation with be announced soon.