Children’s centres, Millmead in Margate and Seashells in Sheerness, face uncertainty as Kent County Council could pull funding

Two children’s centres face an uncertain future if more than £400,000 of funding by Kent County Council (KCC) is withdrawn.

The services in Margate and Sheerness, part of the KCC Family Hubs initiative, have now entered a period of consultation and dozens of jobs could be at risk.

KCC is desperate to find savings as it faces a deficit of more than £100 million over the next two years.

The council has complained for years that it cannot carry out its statutory obligations against a backdrop of squeezed funding from central government and soaring costs.

Margate KCC member Cllr Barry Lewis warned of “a torrent of anger” at the potential loss of the Millmead facility, part of the Sure Start programme and aimed at families with children under seven.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands the savings at Millmead will be up to £250,000, which accounts for a little over half of its total annual budget.

If KCC withdraws its subsidy, its community development and support wing’s 500 users will lose the service but it could also mean the closure of its 65-place nursery, said a source close to the project.

Staff at the centre were told last Thursday their jobs are at risk.

Millmead manager Jan Collins said: "I understand why this is happening but I cannot and will not accept depleting these services in areas of high poverty and that is why I am encouraging as many people as possible to respond to the public consultation before it's too late."

Cllr Lewis, a volunteer helper at Millmead, added: “It’s the heartbeat of the community and the proposed closures will cause a torrent of anger.

“This can’t be allowed to happen as it will do a lot of harm.”

Sheerness Seashells centre is also under threat and it is understood some jobs may be at risk.

Conservative KCC member for the area, Andy Booth, said: “The likelihood is there will be a number of high-profile decisions that have to be made and it’s because we have to do it, not because we want to do it.”

Cllr Booth hopes that if there are to be redundancies, some jobs can be found elsewhere or be shed through natural wastage.

Millmead and Seashells, both part of the New Labour SureStart programme in the late 1990s, are the only externally funded hubs and their contracts run out in March 2025. KCC runs the rest of the family hub service.

The authority says it has services available locally for residents in Margate, Cliftonville and Northdown Road and proposed provision at Sheppey Gateway for Seashells users.

KCC said the consultation relates tomservices at those sites but does not mean the closure of the buildings themselves.

A statement said: “The financial challenge facing the council is well documented. KCC needs to deliver £108.8m…savings over the next two years by making changes to services that save money for the council whilst continuing to provide support for residents that need it.

“By not renewing these contracts KCC would save £426,000 and ensure a consistent approach to Family Hubs across all areas of Kent.”

Sue Chandler, cabinet member for integrated children’s services said: “Following the introduction of our new Family Hub model across Kent last year, the management cost for these two commissioned services creates a duplication as KCC is also paying for the management of the in-house services on offer at KCC Family Hubs across the districts of Swale and Thanet.

“By not renewing these contracts when they naturally come to an end in March 2025, we can make a much-needed efficiency saving whilst continuing to provide essential services for families and young people in these areas.”

For full details of this proposal and to have your say visit www.kent.gov.uk/familyhubsconsultation

The consultation will run for eight weeks until September 22.