Polly has welcomed the announcement by Kent County Council that a further year of funding will be provided to keep the Millmead Children’s Centre open, but says the fight isn’t over to save the centre.

Polly has been campaigning hard to save the centre following news last year that Conservative-controlled Kent County Council was to axe its £222,127 contract with the Millmead Family Hub, which provoked a huge outcry from the public and local councillors. The centre provides a lifeline to many families in one of the most deprived parts of Kent.

The council had initially stuck by its decision, despite an additional funding boost of £4.1m being provided by the new Labour government to support family hubs. But Labour councillors in Kent managed to get the decision ‘called in’, meaning it went back to full council for scrutiny. Following that meeting, Kent County Council have now provided an additional year of funding to keep the centre open.

Following the decision, Polly said:

“The announcement that funding for the Millmead Children’s Centre will be extended by a year is hugely welcome. I want to pay tribute to the staff and families at Millmead, my Kent Labour colleagues, and local campaigners in Margate who have fought long and hard to save Millmead from closure.

But a one-year extension doesn’t end the uncertainty for Millmead families and is yet another example of chaotic decision-making by Kent County Council. By doing this, the Council is admitting that they were wrong to try and axe vital family services in one of the most deprived wards in Kent. Instead of dragging this out for another year, Kent County Council should hold their hands up, end the dithering, and commit to long-term sustainable funding for this vital community asset.”