A CHILDREN'S respite centre earmarked for closure looks set to remain open for another 12 months.

Cabinet members have backed a proposal which will see Herefordshire Council taking over the lead commissioner role at No 1 Ledbury Road from Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

The centre, which provides respite care for children with complex health needs, was set to close its doors in March in favour of alternative respite methods including community fostering.

Before Christmas a council scrutiny group came up with almost 20 suggestions for improving the council's short breaks service for children with disabilities after labelling the time it took to tell parents No 1 might be closing as “completely

unacceptable”.

But cabinet members last week approved a 12-month plan which will see a contract offered to Wye Valley NHS Trust to avoid the "cliff edge" parents were faced with.

Cabinet member Cllr Graham Powell warned members the right decisions must be made now.

He said: "I don't suppose any of us are particularly proud of what has happened over the past 12 months and we need to make sure that we make decisions so that we are not here in another 12 months saying 'what happened there'?"

In presenting the report, Cabinet member for Young People & Children's Wellbeing, Cllr Jonathan Lester, said "other options" are currently being looked at regarding the future of No 1.

The new contract will not be a replica of the existing one but would boast a 'social care-focused model' supporting up to 15 children and young people.

Cabinet members also approved a £600,000 increase in its short breaks budget to cover the cost.

Some parents have raised concerns the foster idea won't work, adding they weren't consulted, with a small group saying they will take legal action against the council and CCG.

Currently, 25 children use No 1 with the council planning for that number to drop to 15 by April.

Before Christmas, the council's Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee delivered its report to Cllr Lester.

Recommendations included consideration being given to whether other suitable residential facilities providing respite care within Herefordshire are available, which was agreed by Cllr Lester, and the possibility of reinstating referrals to No 1. This was rejected because the centre "is unable to meet all the provision it is contracted for".