A HIGH Court challenge against plans to cut funding to more than half of Oxfordshire's children’s centres is being heard this afternoon.

Oxfordshire County Council is facing a judicial review of the process that led to its controversial reorganisation of children’s services, which are due to come into effect next year.

The bid for a judicial review has been launched by two parents on behalf of their children, who cannot be named for legal reasons. 

In the opening arguments for the prosecution at Birmingham Administrative Court, David Wolfe QC told Mr Justice Langstaff the council had not carried out full impact assessments before its decision to close children's centres.

He also said that during the 2015/16 budget-setting process, councillors were led to believe savings of £6m would not result in closures.

He said: "There was still the proposition that savings would be achieved without closing children's centres.

"That was the repeated mantra.

"So insofar as you [councillors] have an understanding of the potential impact of this, you are being told it would maintain frontline services... at the point councillors are making a decision." 

The council shake-up would result in funding being pulled from 31 of 44 children’s centres and two of seven early intervention hubs after March.

The hearing continues.