Liberal Democrats Accuse Labour of Mischief-making

6.26.00pm GMT Mon 3rd Dec 2007

Councillor Sandra Clark, Liberal Democrat cabinet member with responsibility for children, has condemned both the Labour MP and Labour councillors for causing unnecessary anxiety to parents who use the eight Council-run day nurseries.

Last week the Labour MP issued a press release bemoaning the parent consultation process.

Commenting on this press release, Sandra Clark said: "The current parent consultation process is happening because the Government has advised that all Councils should consider whether they should continue to deliver services like nurseries.

"The consultation is to discover the views of parents, prior to formulating recommendations on how nursery education could best be delivered in the future," continued Sandra.

This is happening as a result of two Acts of Parliament. The Childcare Act 2004 states that, with the introduction of Children's Trusts, councils should explore whether services currently provided by them should be delivered by other providers from the voluntary or private sector. And the Childcare Act 2006 states that a local authority may not provide childcare for a particular child or group of children unless the local authority is satisfied:

• That no other person is willing or able to provide childcare, or

• If another person is not willing to do so, that in those circumstances it is appropriate for the local authority to provide the childcare.

Councillor Clark concluded: "It is disgraceful for the Labour MP to criticise the Council for implementing her own Government's policies! The Liberal Democrat-run Council values these nurseries but the Council is being forced to consult parents on the future of nursery provision. We have no choice. It will be for the Council's cabinet to decide which options go forward as part of the full consultation process."