Christchurch City Council is proposing it withdraws from school holiday programmes for children in the Linwood, Bromley and Templeton areas as community providers would like to offer their own programmes.

The Council’s Recreation and Sport Manager John Filsell says: "Since the start of the year, three community providers have expressed an interest and commitment to work with the Council to provide holiday programmes in the Linwood and Bromley areas."

"In Templeton, a new community-based provider of holiday programmes has the capacity to accommodate the children who previously attended the Council’s programme."

He says the Council will continue to work through its community recreation advisers to support community-operated holiday programmes.

The change proposal would disestablish 46 roles, 45 of which are seasonal, school-holiday positions. One role is full-time permanent.

This is in line with the Council’s commitment in the Long Term Plan to support the community to provide holiday programmes, says John Filsell.

The Council will work with all affected staff to provide other opportunities where possible.