A council chief has come under fire after he announced he will not be attending public meetings set up to discuss the closure of children’s centres – a move branded “disrespectful” by campaigners.

Cabinet member for children’s services at Bucks County Council, Warren Whyte, said he will only be attending the public consultation in his hometown of Buckingham as a local councillor.

The decision has been met with frustration from campaigners fighting the closure of the centres across the county – who have called for Cllr Whyte to “face up to the public” and attend the session in High Wycombe next week.

Lead campaigner, Alka Dass, also asked if more meetings will be arranged during the day, as some parents can't attend the evening consultations as they are unable to arrange childcare.

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She said: “Most parents are in the middle of bedtime routines. We have requested meetings during the day or weekends and to take place in children’s centres so that parents can attend but we are still to hear back and time is ticking.

“We have also contacted Cllr Warren Whyte as he has informed us he will not be attending all meetings as they are mainly operational meetings. 

“He should be attending these meetings, facing the public and being the lead, as this is his project. It is not fair and is disrespectful to attendees if he does not attend, making people feel unimportant. A lot of people are looking forward to meeting him and his team and it is extremely impolite that he does not attend.”

Last month Bucks County Council pushed forward with the implementation of its early help service – which will include the replacement of 35 children’s centres across the county.

Cllr Whyte said the aim of the meetings is to discuss “what the options are” for the children’s centre buildings that won’t be used in the new scheme, which is expected to launch in June.

He said: “I will be encouraging local councillors to get involved in the conversation in their local area and am therefore attending the meeting in Buckingham in my role as the local councillor.

“It’s really important that we focus these conversations on what the options are for individual communities so we’re really keen to hear from parish councils, schools, community groups and residents about what ideas they have that will continue to support local families.”

He added that dates for more meetings will be added to the county council website in due course, and urged residents to send their views to www.buckscc.gov.uk/earlyhelp

The meetings will take place as follows: 

  • Tuesday March 20, 7pm at High Wycombe Library -  Covering children’s centres in  Castlefield, Mapledean, Millbrook, Disraeli, Hamilton Road, Hampden Way, Wycombe East
  • Monday March 26, 7pm at County Hall, Aylesbury - Covering children’s centres in Waddesdon, Quarrendon, Bearbrook, Elmhurst, Oakfield and Bedgrove, Southcourt
  • Tuesday March 27, 7pm at Buckingham Library - Covering Buckingham Children’s Centre and Steeple Claydon