Anti-austerity campaigners are continuing claims that a council consultation over job losses and cuts in children’s services is ‘flawed.’

Protestors from Bradford People’s Assembly took to the steps of City Hall last month to make a stand against plans that are out for public consultation until February 12.

Hundreds of leaflets were handed out to people during the protest, supported by union Unite, to gather public backing to stop the axe falling on hundreds of jobs and “a drastic reduction” in the prevention and early help services provided by Children’s Services.

Proposals in the pipeline would mean changes would be made to the way Bradford’s Prevention and Early Help is delivered.

According to George Williamson from the Bradford People’s Assembly, if the plans are rolled out it would mean there would be just one worker helping a family with children aged 0-19 or 0-25 if a child has Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Any changes would come into effect next October, before being fully implemented by 2020.

Mr Williamson said: “Bradford People’s Assembly believe not enough information is being provided on the alternatives to the cuts and the Council is not being open and truthful with the public and this makes the consultation flawed.

“The preferred option put forward by management and by the portfolio holder for Health and Social Care, Val Slater, will see the downgrading of children’s centres and will also see 240 full time positions, which could be as many as 480 people lose their jobs – many of these staff will be women working part time and on the front line of the service.”

Mr Williamson said a report that went to the Council’s Executive on November 7 last year showed there were four options, but said it was only the preferred option that had plenty of information about it.

He said no alternatives were presented at the meeting.

“The consultation is based only on one of the options and gives no information on what the other options are.

“In reality the other options are either keep things as they are or privatising the service, but there is no supporting information in the Executive report to show why management feel these are the only alternative to their proposed model.” he said.

A Council spokesman said: “The proposals are out for public consultation and we encourage as many people and organisations as possible to have their say.”

People can view the proposals online and have their say by visiting surveys.bradford.gov.uk/snapwebhost/s.asp?k=151073546380