A FRESH probe has been ordered into controversial children's centre cuts in Worcestershire, it has emerged.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, the Conservative cabinet member pushing through the changes, has been asked to take part in a fresh public grilling by a cross-party group of politicians.

It will be the third time the leading Tory has gone before a scrutiny committee to field questions on the looming changes, which have sparked an outcry among parents.

The fresh scrutiny session will focus on the extent of the cuts, which will see total funding to the 32 children's centres plunge 53 per cent from £6.4 million to just £3 million in October.

Labour Councillor Richard Udall, who chairs the scrutiny board, said he was concerned about the level of cuts being twice as bad as many campaigners and politicians first realised.

The extent of the overall spending reductions, which is being partly driven by the loss of a key Government grant, is expected to form the bass of the questioning.

"I have serious concerns about this whole process," said Councillor Udall.

"We need to ask more questions and seek more assurances - it's far too important to let this happen without adequate scrutiny.

"The cabinet needs to understand it is accountable for these decisions and cannot force through cuts of this magnitude without serious cross examination and investigation.

"We want to shine a light on the process and ensure the public have a right to watch, listen and ask questions of their elected politicians."

Conservative Councillor Liz Eyre, a former member of the senior Tory leadership who is now the scrutiny board's vice-chair, was also involved in the decision to stage another probe into it.

The session will take place at County Hall at 10am on Wednesday, August 31 in a meeting of the children and families scrutiny panel.

As the Worcester News revealed earlier this week, County Hall's direct children centre funding of £4.4 million will be reduced by around £1.5 million, but the overall extent of the cuts are being exacerbated due to a quirk in where the money comes from.

The Early Intervention Grant, a ring-fenced fund from central Government, is ending entirely, taking the overall spending reduction on children's centres from £6.4 million to £3 million.

Claims from some Labour politicians about the leadership being misleading have been rejected, with the Tories citing the loss of the Government grant from the start of the process and making sure it is referred to in documents tied to the consultation process.

Total spending on children's centres, including the Government grant, was £8.5 million back in 2013, meaning it will have plunged 64 per cent since then.

A cabinet report in June revealed how the Government's grant had more than halved since 2013, and since then a 'frequently asked questions' document has been published online referring to it for people taking part in the consultation which runs until August 17.

Bosses at County Hall, including Councillor Bayliss, insist no centres will close, with each site due to be taken over by schools or childcare organisations.

The politician told the Worcester News he was planning to attend the August 31 session anyway.

But services will reduce significantly in 18 of them, leading to the current consultation which runs until August 17.

The funding reductions are due to kick in from October but some centres have started to reduce their offerings now, to prepare for the looming changes.

The Tory administration says it intends to "work closely with providers to find the best solutions possible" for each site, insisting none will shut and that the cash still left come the autumn will be targeted at those "most in need".