MORE than 30 children's centres across Worcestershire have been saved from the axe - but services face being cut with funding slashed by a third.

Worcestershire County Council is hatching a deal which will see schools or childcare organisations take over the running of sites to save them from the chop.

But the arrangements will see funding for the 32 centres drop from £4.5 million to around £3 million, with new providers taking on the running costs and utility bills.

During a media briefing today members of the Conservative leadership hailed the proposals, which are expected to start from October, as "win-win" after more than 2,000 people responded to a consultation pleading for a reprieve.

But although all centres will remain open and stay in council ownership under lease deals, they warned that 17 of the 32 sites face "significant" changes requiring consultation.

No fewer than 20 of the sites will stay open under the control of schools, via leases.

The exact details of what services will remain at each building will be finalised after a fresh six-week consultation period ending in August, based what schools and the other organisations can provide within that reduced funding.

Bosses at County Hall say the deal will see "increased use of the buildings" at the majority of sites, with some expected to get longer opening hours or a wider range of assistance.

But a briefing paper detailing warns that some services "may stop or move to other venues" at more than half of them.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, the cabinet member for children and families, said: "It'd be unrealistic of me to suggest there won't be a reduction in the volume of activity at some centres, we have to be upfront about that.

"We have to be honest about it as otherwise, the charge will be 'you didn't tell us about this'.

"But we still expect a good spread of service provision around the county and good services focusing on those who most need it."

He said "the financial situation means we have to make changes" but insisted the savings were "relatively modest".

“We are facing tough financial challenges which are forcing us to consider different ways of working,” he added.

“What is important is that our proposals do not include the closures of any buildings – these centres are important community resources.”

In Worcester, the Oasis Academy in Warndon is being allowed to take on the lease for the on-site children's centre called Lavender, while Perry Wood Primary will take on its Bluebell building to name just two of the deals.

Both of them could see some services go or relocate elsewhere.

Debbie Herbert, the lead commissioner for vulnerable children and families, yesterday said the services for each site across Worcestershire will vary on a "case-by-case" basis.

Reaction is already starting to come in today, with mixed views across the county.

Mum-of-two Lisa Reynolds, of Warndon, said the council should "make savings in other areas, not children" but Jane Woakes, headteacher of Bewdley Primary School, which is taking on a centre called Riverside, said it would be of "great benefit" to her community, allowing it to extend its childcare.

Miss Reynolds, 29, who uses Buttercup, a children’s centre at the Fairfield Centre, said: “If they can spend money on things like roads then they can do it for children’s centres – families need these places.”

Her centre is being taken over by Fairfield Primary School but no significant changes are expected.

Mrs Woakes said people in Bewdley would benefit as her school would “keep as many of the existing services running as possible” and extend its childcare offer beyond the existing provision for just two-year-olds after taking on the lease.

The overall spending for what County Hall calls ‘early years’ was £23.3 million in 2015/16, up from £18.2 million two years previously, but continued Government grant funding reductions and demographic pressures mean the budgets are coming under unprecedented pressure.

We revealed earlier this year that the current savings requirement of around £25 million per year is forecasted to rise to £34 million in 2017/18.

The fresh consultation on children’s centres will start on Friday, June 24 and run until August 5.

* To see a report on the public consultation feedback go HERE

* See what is happening to YOUR local children’s centre in a site-by-site breakdown HERE