At their last meeting, councillors unanimously agreed to decline tenders and “continue investigating a new operating model” that could see the council retain operation of the centres which are presently subsidised by ratepayers.
Sandie Morthen, from the United Services Union, said the council’s Education and Care Services Review Working Group had identified potential savings of $690,000 and increased revenue opportunities of more than a million dollars which could put the services “back in the black” over time.
Noting the quality of its childcare services were second to none, Ms Morthen said improvements to Cumberland’s “very poor online presence” could significantly drive up utilisation rates, while reducing duplication of administration costs and closing down the Sometime Centre in Merrylands and repurposing the building could result in big savings.
She said the existing long day care services also catered for 101 children with special needs or “challenging behaviours” who would be unlikely to find a place elsewhere.
“By taking away the care from these children, you are putting at risk the livelihood of these families,” Ms Morthen said.
As the parent of a special needs child, Councillor Glenn Elmore says he knows how important it is for the council to help out in the community and “to look after some people that other places will turn away”.
However Cr Michael Zaiter noted that three previous “hard decisions” made by councillors which resulted is cutting costs related to childcare services, including long day care, by “about $4 million a year”, were all opposed by the six Labor councillors and said he still had questions about the working group’s proposals.
Mayor Steve Christou said with staff costs and overheads, it was difficult to compete with private providers.
“Which is why we need to look at alternative operating models to achieve the best value for money for rate payers, while maintaining the same number of child care places,” he said.
URGING councillors to retain control of its childcare services, Merrylands resident Dr Diane Colman said her own children attended the “excellent” Gumnut Grove centre.
She said access to the Council-run child care services was “instrumental” in the development of her career as an academic.
“The reassurance that my girls were getting the best care possible, meant that I was able to work to support them and study to improve our prospects in life,” she said.
