COUNCILLORS locked horns when an opposition party threatened to withdraw from a children’s centre panel.

During an impassioned meeting, the county’s Liberal Democrat leader Richard Webber warned his party could pull out from the cabinet advisory group (Cag).

He accused Conservatives of “politely rejecting” the group’s suggestions relating to budget cuts, adding: “The Cag gave us a chance to explore fully any new options. It was a chance to pause and think again.

“But there is a perception that the council actually has made up its mind some time ago.

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“If (the Cag) is just being used to rubber stamp a decision that’s already been made, we will withdraw.”

The cross-party panel was set up to discuss policy on early intervention services, including the 44 children’s centres and eight hubs which are under threat from budget cuts.

Mr Webber wanted the cabinet to rethink their proposals for eight referral-only ‘children and family centres’, which would replace the existing universal services.

He suggested the panel was a smokescreen to make councillors look like they were considering other options.

Melinda Tilley, who sat on the panel for the Conservative party, was shocked by his accusations.

Speaking after the meeting, she said: “That’s absolutely not true. It was there to advise me and the cabinet and nearly everything they said was taken on in the decision. We changed a lot of the consultation.

Richard came on (to the panel) right at the end, so I don’t know how he knows all about it when we spent 18 months meeting.”

The first children’s centres are due to close in October, but the county council has said it is in discussions to allow local councils and other groups to take on some of the centres.