Burnham-On-Sea’s Octopus Children’s Centre is to be merged with Highbridge and Cheddar under cost-cutting proposals that will see a cluster of centres being formed, Somerset County Council announced this week.
None of the centres will close, however the plans could lead to two of the three centre managers being laid off as just one will oversee the new ‘Sedgemoor 1’ cluster.
Up to nine managers are being laid off across Somerset and the remaining eight will each look after a number of centres rather than just one.
A spokesman for Somerset County Council told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Highbridge will be one of three children’s centres in a North Sedgemoor cluster with one manager across the three centres (Highbridge, Burnham-On-Sea and Cheddar). We are also looking at securing an extra part time post for family support work.”
“With any changes, Somerset County Council is trying to make sure that front line services are protected.”
Eventually, the council hopes the centres will be handed over to charities to run. The council says the plan will save £667,000.
