SENIOR members of Thurrock Council will debate the future of two children's nurseries in Tilbury next week - and have been recommended to leave themselves the option of closing them.

The saga of the future of the Neptune and Little Pirates Nurseries has been running since September when Thurrock Nub News revealed the council was considering the nurseries' closure as a cost-saving measure.

The council ran a consultation exercise which returned an overwhelming response that local people wanted to keep the nurseries, prompting the council to announce it would be seeking new operators for the two nurseries, rather than running them itself.

At next week's meeting of the council's Conservative ruling cabinet, members will debate the terms under which new operators might be sanctioned.

The report from children's services portfolio holder, Cllr Barry Johnson, says: "Following consultation with parents, the wider community and other early education providers, officers have considered the options to reduce the risk of closure of Neptune Nursery and Little Pirates Nurseries.

"The option we are seeking cabinet approval for is to procure an alternative early education provider as this will provide continuity of provision for parents.

"The consultation has received some positive response from providers who are interested in expanding their current offer."

However, Cllr Johnson adds: "Should the procurement exercise be unsuccessful both nurseries will need to close.

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"If we are unable to identify a new provider, parents will be supported to find alternative provision where possible."

Cllr Johnson's full report can be read via this link.

The children's services in Cllr Johnson's portfolio could bear a significant brunt of the council's cost-cutting measures as it seeks to balance its books in the coming year. See report here.