Plans to charge parents for children centre groups up for discussion

Parents are set to be charged for using children centre groups across Brighton and Hove.

As Brighton and Hove City Council faces deepening reductions to its budget, the local authority has opened a consultation on the option.

Without charging, council chiefs claim that some of the services would have to stop.

The proposal is to charge a set rate of £3 per child per 90 minute session for a range of groups including stay and play, dads’ stay and play, toddler and you; jump for joy and children’s centre drop-in groups run in libraries.

However, healthy child clinics, baby groups and a range of targeted and invitation groups, courses and crèches will remain free of charge for the foreseeable future.

The plan to consult on charging is part of the council’s budget strategy for this year, and was formally agreed by the council’s children and young people committee in June.

A council spokeswoman did admit though that widening out the charging of services may be considered in the future.

The online consultation is now open and will end on September 12. Any decision will be made by the council’s children and young people committee in October.

The payments would be made using the school-wide parent payment system Parent Pay.

Parents on low incomes or who have disabilities, looked after and adopted children or those subject to a care plan would not be charged.

The proposal, subject to the consultation, is to introduce the charges in January.

To take part, visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/children-centre-survey.