CHESHIRE East Council has responded to claims that members of its scrutiny committee had ‘no idea’ about the future of the children’s centres.

Protestors attended a meeting on Monday, April 4 to demand that the scrutiny committee look into the de-designation of four children’s centres across the borough in Knutsford, Nantwich and Rural, Sandbach and Broken Cross.

However, the committee apparently told members of Friends of Cheshire East Children’s Centres that they did not understand the meaning of ‘de-designation’, causing the group to say they felt ‘embarrassed’ for the committee.

When the Guardian contacted Cheshire East Council for a response it was told that the council could not speak on behalf of individual members of the scrutiny committee, but provided a comment to clarify the meaning of de-designation.

A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said: “We are not closing the children’s centres we are de-designating them. This means we plan to still deliver services from each building – but more as a satellite rather than a designated centre.

“The level of service will aim to meet targeted need and serve the local community. This reflects the Council’s commitment to providing the right service in the right place at the right time.

“It is our intention that the four de-designated buildings will continue to offer services for under-fives and, as such, under current rules this should not attract clawback from the Department for Education.”