The council's Labour Group leader, Coun. David Scott, will be proposing a motion calling on fellow councillors to oppose reported plans by Conservatives to cut £200m from national Sure Start Children's Centre budgets. The cut would result in the closing of centres working with families in York, says Coun. Scott. He commented:

"This is a dreadful idea and yet one which we have come to expect from the Tories. At the height of the recessions in the 1980s and 1990s, their approach was to cut help to those that needed it most, leaving a lost generation of people who were ready and willing to work.

"Their latest plans would hit those in need hard, with Sure Start Children's Centres providing a wide range of support services to families who are more likely to feel the effects of a recession. The planned cut of £200m is almost one fifth of the entire national Children's Centres budget, which would have dire consequences. For York this could see two of our Children's Centres close.

"Sure Start and Sure Start Integrated Children's Centres have played a vital role in communities across the city for a number of years now. Family support and parental outreach, support for children and parents with special needs, and integrated early learning and childcare are just some of the services offered which are a real lifeline to many families.

"We are calling on all parties to acknowledge the damage that such a move would cause and to let David Cameron, and all local Parliamentary candidates know. We have asked the candidates to declare their position so that the residents of York know where they stand before the election.

"We should not also forget that this cut to Children's Centres could be a double hit on children and young people as Conservatives also propose cutting 1% from the Dept for Children Schools and Families".