Children's centres across the borough have been stung with a 14 per cent cut to their budget as austerity measures continue to bite.

The £175,000 cuts were confirmed at a meeting of Sutton Council's children, family and education committee on September 18.

Sutton Council has said there will be no job losses or changes to direct services as a result stating the money comes from budgetary underspend and as such will have no impact on children.

A spokesman for the council said: "The decision was taken because the council must meet a £40m cut from its annual budget.

"There will be no job losses or changes to direct services at children’s services as a result of the decision taken by the committee.

"The council assesses that the impact of the reduction in the short term, which is an average cut of £12,500 per centre, will be mitigated by the accumulated balances held by children’s centres, which are on average almost £50,000 per centre."

Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Sutton and Cheam, Emily Brothers has warned the move will weaken services.

She said: "Frankly, salami slicing is another way for Lib Dem leaders to abdicate their responsibility for making decisions.

"It is no good trying to wriggle out of this one as they are tied into the Coalition Government’s austerity agenda, so passing the buck by blaming Westminster simply doesn’t work.

"I’m perplexed by their decision to cut services in this way ahead of determining the longer term strategy for children’s centres and the redesign of provision.

"They’ve got into another muddle by failing to put strategy ahead of delivery."

The affected centres are: Tweeddale, Muschamp, Spencer, Manor Park, Thomas Wall, Amy Johnson, Highview, Beddington, Stanley Park, Victor Seymour, The Grange, Green Oak Cheam, Green Oak Worcester Park and Shanklin.

Ms Brothers has called for formation of a cluster of family support centres that would tie the local authority's community and social care services together with community based health services.

She added: "I want to see a vision that meets family needs, not this crude Lib Dem reaction to financial pressures. That will only take Sure Start to a sure end."