Under fire council chiefs have been accused of not caring about children and deprived families after it was revealed “vital” centres in Buckinghamshire face the chop as part of massive cutbacks.

Some of the 35 children’s centres across the county have been placed under the microscope with Bucks County Council announcing plans for a widespread review as they look to save £53 million in the next four years.

Fears are growing over the future of the centres, with Labour councillors now criticising BCC’s Tory regime for ‘just wanting to make cuts’.

Labour councillor for Disraeli at Wycombe District Council, Khalil Ahmed, believes the ‘Sure Start’ centres set up by the previous Labour government are now being “starved of resources”.

He said: “Because it was for everyone, there was no stigma attached to going to Sure Start and parents could help one another. It helped bring communities together.

“These services are vital, particularly for the poor and the vulnerable.

“Since the Tories came into power in 2010, Sure Start centres have been renamed, starved of resources and had their opening hours and services cut. “Some have closed or are moribund, some have been outsourced, and all have been reviewed to death. Here’s another review coming up. “All BCC want to do is find savings as BCC is broke. BCC doesn’t care about the children or deprived families. They just want to make cuts.”

The new Families Support Services review comes after the council agreed a “challenging” budget, which included the need to find further savings and efficiencies of around £53m across all services over the next four years.

The review will focus primarily on the role of the 35 children's centres across the county, the services they provide and the impact they make in helping children develop and families avoid the need for social care support in the future.

It will include looking at variations in need across the county and how these could be better met, good practice nationally and globally, how buildings could be better used and how savings and more income could be made.

The review will also take account of the views of users and professional providers, with leading councillors admitting some could face closure.

BCC cabinet member for education and skills, Zahir Mohammed said: "Our children's centres are extremely popular in their local communities but it's my job to make sure that they deliver services that are focussed on those children and families who really need help.

"We face difficult decisions, but if we don't provide a more targeted service, we won't achieve the savings we need to make - this is the reality of the difficult budget decisions the Council had to make back in February.

“A do-nothing approach is not an option.”

He added: "At this early stage I can't rule out options which might include possible closures in some areas, however I will ensure we explore all the different ways that they could continue going forward.”

An initial review report is expected later in the year.