Little Owls Leeds: Council to review decision to close three nurseries after formal ‘call-in’ requests

Opposition councillors have put their names to formal requests for Leeds City Council to review its decision on the future of Little Owls centres.

The Chapel Allerton, Gipton North and Kentmere nurseries are to be closed under cost-saving plans.

The council’s executive board also decided to press ahead with a review of another 12 of nurseries, which could be merged or taken over by other providers.

The council will continue to operate nine of the nurseries.

Councillors have requested a review of the decision as part of a process called ‘call-in’.

It means Little Owls will be discussed by the authority’s Children and Families scrutiny board at a meeting on Tuesday (July 9).

The board can either recommend that the decision is reconsidered by the executive board, or say it can be implemented.

In a report setting out the reasons for the call-in request, the councillors said concerns included a lack of consultation and disruption for vulnerable children.

It said: “The decision fails to appropriately consider the negative impact on life opportunities for both children and parents, particularly in deprived areas.

“Affordable childcare offers access to education and grants parents the freedom to undertake paid work.

“This lack of provision will impact the parents’ ability to do so.”

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The original closure decision was taken by executive board on June 19.

The scrutiny board received two formal call-in requests signed by councillors.

The lead signatories were Coun Ryan Stephenson, Conservative member for Harewood, and Mothin Ali, Gipton and Harehills Green Party councillor.

This article was updated on July 8, 2024 following a clarification issued by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.