Councillors have voted to move ahead with a consultation on the future of Medway’s Sure Start Centres.

The proposal to close 19 centres and create larger ‘super hubs’ was discussed at Medway Council’s Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee last night.

It had been called-in by Medway Labour Group after being approved at an earlier cabinet meeting.

Although limited detail was available before the consultation opening, the proposal does include options for satellites sites and the expansion to include youngsters to the age of 19.

Funding for early years provision available to the council has been reduced from £6.9m to £2m over the last four years.

The committee heard from parents who have used the centres, as well as professionals, including Dr Eleanor Jupp, a lecturer in social policy at the University of Kent, and Jan Taylor, head teacher of Pilgrims School in Borstal.

Dr Jupp said the proposed model is risky to vulnerable families, and Mrs Taylor said the harder to reach families avoid bigger centres as they feel judged.

Cllr Clive Johnson (Lab) said: “This proposal is a leap into the dark and it’s the families of Medway who the council are forcing over the edge.”

Responding to the comments, Cllr Stuart Tranter (Con) said the report had not been the best in explaining the details, and “has left many of us feeling uncomfortable”.

Cllr Barry Kemp (Con) said he had initially been anxious about the proposals so had rung 20 other local authorities who he said are all also moving to hub models.

Medway Labour asked the committee to send the plans back to cabinet and include an option to keep all centres open in the consultation, which should instead run for a year.

Their proposal was voted down by the 10 Conservative committee members, and the committee voted to move ahead with the six-week consultation which now opens today (Wednesday). It can be viewed online at www.medway.gov.uk

There will be 38 consultation events, including visits to the 19 centres, as well as online and paper questionnaires.