THE FUTURE of children’s services could be in voluntary organisation’s hands, council bosses said last night.

Independent county councillor Mark Gray spoke at Didcot Civic Centre as part of a public meeting to discuss proposals to close Oxfordshire’s 44 children’s centres and seven early intervention hubs.

The County Council says it can no longer afford to run universal children’s services due to budget cuts by the government and is now looking to save more than £6m.

Mr Gray said outsourcing children’s services from the County Council would open the way to alternative sources of funding.

He added: “Conversations are under way with voluntary organisations and grant-giving bodies.”

“We are not looking for volunteers but for community groups, stakeholders, town and parish councils and community organisations.

“In some places I think it’s doable and I think we can bring enough money to keep universal services.”

Earlier in the evening, director of Children’s services opened the 90-minute question-and-answer session with a presentation detailing the impact of the “crippling” budget reductions.

He said: “I feel desperately sad that we are sat here tonight talking about reductions. Nobody said this was a cracking good idea.

“There isn’t one councillor I know who actually wants to close the centres down.

“We’ve got to find different ways to run our services because what we have at the moment doesn’t work.

“We need to find ways to support those children who are most vulnerable. We cannot continue to provide universal services that are accessible to all.”

The County Council has outlined three possible options for children’s services. The first one consists in eight children and family centres focusing fully on the most vulnerable youngsters.

The second one would also see eight centres, with a limited amount of universal services.

According to the third option, the county would run six centres with more money for universal services.

Speaking later from the public, a resident of Didcot and grandfather said: “This is the wealthiest county in the world and we’re being told we can’t afford essential children’s services? I simply can’t believe it.”

His remark that the meeting, held from 6pm to 7:30pm, had been scheduled at “the most inconvenient time for parents” was met with claps from the audience.

Twenty-five members of the public attended the meeting in Didcot’s Britwell Road – half the amount of people who came to the first public session organised by the County Council in Oxford’s Kings Centre, in Osney Mead, a week ago.

Asked by Mr Gray if they would be willing to pay more council tax in order to fund services, some answered: “Yes.”

Councillor for Didcot West Nick Hards said the County Council would have to find out what level of increase the public would support and said that even a five or six per cent increase would not be enough to keep services in their current state.

The discussion came after indications by Chancellor George Osborne that he would allow local authorities to increase the tax by an additional two per cent to help fund social care.

This would represent an additional £6m for the County Council.

Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families Melinda Tilley said the County Council would have to wait for further detail regarding a possible increase.

She added: “We don’t know when or where it’s going to go. It could be adult’s or children’s services, which are the two parts of social care.”

The third and last public meeting about the future of children's services will be held on Monday, November 30 from 6pm to 7:30 pm in Bicester's John Paul II Centre.

Please click here to take part in the consultation.