The move comes after a Department for Education report was published in December which showed how the mental health of parents was worse in areas where Sure Start Centres have been closed or are subject to Council cuts.
Councillor Andy Sorton, who raised the issue at a Council Meeting on 7th April, said ‘The Tories sneaked out this report which highlighted how it is the families most in need that are worst affected when Sure Start Centres face cuts.
‘Poorer mental health outcomes for parents and children are not a price that Labour think is worth paying, and in fact these cuts are just another example of the false economies we are seeing across the borough at the moment.
‘The Lib Dems have a history of making cuts to Sure Start – and have reduced the number of centres in Stockport from 19 down to 4 in the last 6 years – so the fact they are not providing any guarantees should tell local families all they need to know.’
Stockport currently has 4 Sure Start Centres, 6 Children and Family Centres and 8 Satellite Children’s Centres. Only Sure Start Centres are inspected by Ofsted and so are judged on the universality of the provision which they provide to the local community.
Councillor Sorton added ‘In answering my question the Executive Member explicitly admitted that one of her first actions in the post was to agree to cuts in our local Children’s Centres 3 years ago.
‘Given that track record, and with the Lib Dems promising more ‘efficiencies’ after the local elections, families in Stockport need to vote Labour on 5th May if they want to safeguard the future of their Sure Start Centre.’