Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:  That all items be considered in public.

Although not present at the meeting, Councillor Duncan Flynn had provided a written statement in relation to the Hillside Children's Centre petitions.  He stated that the Council and the local community in Northwood Hills and the wider area would need to continue to work closely together in order for high quality early years support to continue to be provided in the local area.

Concerns, points and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

·         Hillside Children's Centre had provided parents and their children with a lifeline.  It was a warm and welcoming place that provided support to many families and which had provided early interventions to improve life chances to vulnerable children;

·         Hillside Children's Centre had strong links to four primary schools and 13 nurseries in the area, sharing crucial information in relation to children that were deemed to be 'at risk'.  Petitioners were concerned that, if the Centre closed, many of these vulnerable children would slip through the net and could lead to their issues escalating as adults;

·         Each year, 100 families attended Hillside Children's Centre, 360 women received 1-to-1 breastfeeding support, 300 women attended Watford midwifery clinics and 500 women attended Hillingdon midwifery clinics.  The Centre was currently managed really well with good relations between the Governors and the schools' Headteachers;

·         As there were no Children's Centres in Hillingdon (other than Hillside) that were within walking distance for residents of Northwood and Northwood Hills, parents would need to use public transport or a car to visit an alternative site.  However, many residents in the area were unable to easily afford to travel elsewhere and concern was expressed that a greater distance to travel would prevent mothers who had had a caesarean section from attending, which could result in an increase in newborn hospital admissions for dehydration and weight loss;

·         Parenthood could bring with it a sense of isolation and a lack of support.  It was suggested that the closure of Hillside Children's Centre could result in an increase in mothers in the area experiencing postnatal depression and might also contribute to the gradual erosion of community values;

·         The north of the Borough had the highest concentration of under 5s in Hillingdon and a higher proportion of children with low development, single parent families and parents in receipt of workless benefits;

·         The closure of Hillside Children's Centre would put additional pressure on the Children's Centres in Coteford, Harefield and South Ruislip;

·         On 25 February 2016, Councillor Simmonds had stated that there would be 'no Children's Centre closures'. 

·         Hillside School had refuted the Council's claim that it would not sign a lease and had highlighted the fact that other Children's Centres had not yet signed a lease either and were still in negotiations but were not being closed down;

·         Hillingdon residents had been advised that, despite there being no increase in Council tax, there would be no cuts to services either.  Residents felt betrayed as this was a very clear cut to services which would lead to a reduction in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.