REDUNDANCIES among 300 children's centre staff across the district are part of plans to make savings of £2.4 million in the next year, it has emerged.

But Bradford Council has revealed that none of its 41 children's centres will be shut down as part of its cost-cutting measures, ending more than a year of uncertainty over the futures of certain centres.

A major shake up of how the centres are run will go before the council's executive committee next Tuesday.

Although all the centres will remain open in one form or another, some will no longer provide their current services, operating as "delivery sites" rather than Ofsted-registered children's centres. And some of these will be likely be run by either charity groups or schools rather than directly by the council.

Around 300 people currently work in the district's centres, which offer services to young children and their families.

Currently each of the 41 children's centres have their own management committees, but under the council's latest plans all 41 centres will be lumpled into one of seven "clusters," drastically cutting down on management level staff. The council says making these cuts is the best way to protect front line services.

Initially the council had planned to reduce the number of centres to 27, but after a huge outpouring of public opposition to those plans, and a stay of execution in the form of a one-off grant from the Schools Forum to keep the centres open, officers went back to the drawing board and came up with the latest proposals. A further public consultation over the summer led to the latest plans.

If the proposals are approved, a tender process will go out to run each of the seven clusters. The council has said they intend to bid to run at least one of the clusters, and the changes will be in place by October 2015.

Although no current children's centre building will close, nine will no longer be Ofsted registered Sure Start children's centres - instead becoming "delivery sites" where certain services are provided, but at a reduced level. Those nine are Thornton Children's Centre, Victoria Hall Children's Centre in Queensbury, Baildon Children's Centre, Little Lane Children's Centre in Ilkley, Menston and Burley Children's Centre, Bingley Rural Children's Centre, Trinity 5 Rise Children's Centre in Bingley, Daisy Chain in Silsden and Treetops in Haworth.

Michael Jameson, Strategic Director of Children’s Services, said: "This is less of a focus on buildings and where they are located and more about services families value and need. These seven clusters will combine resources and deliver the outcomes we want to achieve."

Councillor Ralph Berry, executive member for children's services at the council, said: "The priorities are the front line and not on managerial overheads.

"We will be focusing on the areas where there is most need, but people won't be expected to travel huge distances and we are not going to be closing lots of buildings."

Assuring families they would not see a reduction in service, he added: "If you live here and you have a young child you will get that service. This is not about withdrawing from areas of the district. Our priorities are obviously in areas where population is greatest. Other authorities have closed centres."

He said some of the services offered would be delivered at the families' homes rather than centres.

George McQueen, Assistant Director, access and inclusion, said: "The council has taken notice when the public said they didn't like our first proposals. By reducing the management levels to seven clusters we can provide a sustainable offer for the future.

"We are hoping local nurseries will be interested in bidding for a number of the clusters, and the voluntary sector has done well in running centres in the past."

Councillor Debbie Davies, representing Baildon and Conservative spokesman for education, was unconvinced the council had fully listened to concerns of the public. She said: "I'm not sure the council have fully fulfilled what people have asked of them. I do wonder if they are only keeping some of these centres open because they have to because some were funded by the government."

The Executive committee meets at Bradford City Hall at 10.30am on Tuesday 4.