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Cumberland Council rejects childcare centre privatisation

Almost a year after plans began to privatise 17 childcare centres across a western Sydney LGA, the council has agreed to now retain ownership after public backlash.

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Cumberland Council has put the brakes on plans to privatise its 17 childcare centres that care for 660 children after a groundswell of public backlash, although places for children under three will be reduced.

The cash-strapped council revealed in August that it was considering selling its childcare centres, four swimming pools, two golf courses, aged care units and the Holroyd Centre in an effort to salvage $4.5 million in savings.

Childcare is subsidised up to $1.9 million a year by the ratepayer.

Cr Christou denied he reversed his decision to privatise the centres, despite using his casting vote during a closed session in a November meeting to begin the tender process to privatise Advantage Childcare Services, Lighthouse Childcare and The Infants Home Child and Family Services.

“There was never a decision to sell them,’’ Cr Christou said.

“At that time the numbers weren’t feasible and the Labor Party were not coming to the table and assisting council, and the other councillors, on how we can identify cost-saving measures for us to keep them.’’

After meetings between council staff and the United Services Union, two councillors, staff and an expert consultant, the new operation will be more “sustainable”, he said.

Cumberland Mayor Steve Christou at Frances Fisk Childcare Centre at Granville.
Cumberland Mayor Steve Christou at Frances Fisk Childcare Centre at Granville.

The new model will “revitalise” nine council-owned childcare centres by consolidating some services and balancing enrolments across different age groups.

However, that means there will be a drop in places for children aged under three and it will be phased in over two years.

More details about the new model are expected to be released in early August and a council spokeswoman said there would be minimal impacts on the permanent workforce.

Cr Christou denied the pending local government elections in December for the decision to keep the childcare centres, adding that there was only one childcare centre with 47 places in his Granville ward.

“For me to say we’ve done this because it’s an election backflip, that’s completely not true because the impact for us in regards to this issue would have been minimal,’’ he said.

“We had a true desire to keep them but we just needed to get the cost down so they’re running efficiently and the ratepayers aren’t going to foot the bill in the future for a rate rise.’’

Councillors Ned Attie, Paul Garrard, Joe Rahme, Eddy Sarkis, Michael Zaiter and Tom Zreika also supported the privatisation while Labor councillors Lisa Lake, George Campbell, Glenn Elmore, Ola Hamed, Suman Saha, Kun Huang and Greg Cummings voted to keep the centres under the council’s control.

Labor councillor Lisa Lake, who lobbied to keep the childcare centres under the council’s control, welcomed the decision.

“The decision not to outsource this service is a testament to the hard-work and dedication of council’s wonderful childcare educators and staff,’’ she said.

“During this debate, our residents’ voices were loud and clear in opposition to outsourcing this service. They always knew — what it took time for some councillors to appreciate — that there is nothing more important to our community than the care of our children.

“This decision will ensure an active and positive future for council’s children’s services.’’

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/cumberland-council-rejects-childcare-centre-privatisation/news-story/e693e029dd4938db58ceea9995be378d