A PUBLIC question-and-answer session will be held tonight about proposals to axe funding for children's centres in Oxfordshire.

It is due to take place from 6pm to 7.30pm at the Didcot Civic Centre, in Britwell Road, and has been organised by Oxfordshire County Council.

The local authority says it no longer has enough cash to fund the county's 44 children’s centres and seven early intervention hubs.

In a bid to save £8m, it has proposed replacing them with eight "children and family resource centres", targeted at the most vulnerable people aged up to 19. 

Council bosses say the move is needed to provide enough funding for children's social care services, which are facing "unprecedented" numbers of youngsters requiring protection from abuse and neglect.

They have called on communities to come forward with proposals to run the centres by other means.

Last week Jim Leivers, director of children's services, said: "However desirable [children's centres] are... there is no legal requirement that we maintain them.

"The big issue we have got is dealing with children who are abused and need to be cared for. We have a set of duties we can’t meet with the resources we have."

But the Save Oxfordshire's Children's Centres campaign has warned that the change could result in more pressure on children's social care in the long-term.

Tonight's meeting is the second of three public events about the proposals. At the first last Wednesday, one parent accused the county council of giving residents "an ultimatum".

To view more information about the proposals or to take part in the online consultation, click here.