YORK'S three family centres may be closed and the services moved into other council departments, it has been revealed.

Officers stress it would mean the same level of service, while saving cash and avoiding cut backs.

Moving from the dedicated bases in Holgate, Heworth and Clifton, is expected to save up to £70,000.

Pete Dwyer, assistant director of children's services at City of York Council, said: "Over the life of (City of York Council), the family centre service has seen a 25 per cent reduction in its staffing establishment. Nonetheless, the service has continued to successfully deliver a wide range of services to families with children across the full spectrum of need."

But, he added, further reductions could have serious effects on the welfare of families that use the service. There remains the option of responding to future budget pressures by further reducing the service's staffing establishment, such that its purpose would necessarily become more focused on those families in greatest need," he said.

"Under those circumstances, it is to be expected that the incidence of family breakdown would rise, leading to increased numbers of children on the child protection register and/or looked after by the authority.

"In looking to avoid this worst case scenario and to retain the service's current capability, the clearest option would be to withdraw from use of the three dedicated service bases."

All staff and services would be retained in the new accommodation, he said.

Plans to close one family centre last year as the council searched for ways to make up a £4.7 million budget shortfall were shelved after huge opposition.

Members of the council's family centres review group will discuss the proposals on Friday.

Updated: 12:09 Monday, March 26, 2001