NINE children’s centres are to be downgraded under cost-cutting plans approved today.

Bosses at Bradford Council have ploughed ahead with the cuts, despite concerns raised at today’s meeting about the impact it could have on the development of babies and toddlers.

Councillor Gerry Barker (Con, Wharfedale) asked whether the cuts were a step too far, saying: “We are discussing the future of our children, and that to me is paramount.”

Under the plans, the district’s children’s centres will be divided into seven “clusters” to slash management costs.

None of the 41 current children’s centre buildings will close, but nine will no longer be Ofsted-registered Sure Start children’s centres.

Instead they will be known as “delivery sites”, providing fewer services.

Those nine are Thornton, Victoria Hall in Queensbury, Baildon, Little Lane in Ilkley, Menston and Burley, Bingley Rural, Trinity 5 Rise in Bingley, Daisy Chain in Silsden and Treetops in Haworth.

Initially the council had planned to reduce the number of centres to 27, but after a huge outpouring of public opposition, officers went back to the drawing board and came up with the latest proposals.

Councillor Ralph Berry, executive member for children’s services at the Labour-led council, said early-years support was crucial for children and these plans protected front-line services as far as possible.

He said: “We are having to make these difficult decisions, but we are making them in a way that defends the service to the children and their families.”

Councillor Debbie Davies, the Conservative spokesman for children’s services, said it had not been made clear to the public that nine centres would be downgraded.

She said: “Nowhere in the consultation was that ever mentioned.”

Councillor Dale Smith (Con, Wharfedale) asked how many staff would lose their jobs, but was told that would be a decision for the organisations who won the tenders to run each cluster.

Cllr Barker said he thought seven clusters was too few, and that 12 would be more appropriate.

And Cllr David Warburton (Lab, Wyke) said he feared that a cluster covering the whole of Bradford South was too large to be workable.

He said: “I do feel that that cluster is in some ways a step too far, because of its size and complexity.”

Councillor David Green, council leader, said they were trying to keep as much of the front-line as possible while making “significant, if not massive, reductions in council expenditure”.