The future of a Brighton nursery is back in the balance.
Green councillors asked colleagues across the political spectrum to review the threat to Bright Start Nursery in Barrack Yard off North Road, Brighton.
Their moved failed and next week Brighton and Hove City Council will start a formal consultation with staff and parents with a view to closing the nursery by next April.
The move is aimed at saving a subsidy of £87,000
Councillor Amy Kennedy, the Green group’s deputy convenor, said: “We’re bitterly disappointed that the request for review has been rejected.
“Many parents and staff involved feel that the proposals for closure have sprung from nowhere and that the decision to consult on closure taken last week was based on a flawed report.
“Rather than deciding to consult on a proposal with potentially significant social and legal consequences, we would prefer that in the future these were taken into account from the outset and a broader range of informed options considered.”
Councillors “called in” the decision last week by Councillor Vanessa Brown, the council’s Conservative cabinet member for children and young people, to consult on proposals to close Bright Start.
By calling in the decision, the council’s Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee had a chance to decide whether the decision should be reviewed.
They decided against this so the consultation on closing the North Laine nursery will now go ahead.
