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A Plaid Cymru Senedd Member has accused Caerphilly County Borough Council of a lack of engagement with Caerphilly Children’s Centre, which is at risk of closing its nursery.

The council has disputed Peredur Owen Griffiths’ comments and has said it’s in “ongoing dialogue” with the centre.

The centre, in Energlyn, is run by Action for Children, alongside the council, Gwent Health Trust, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, and charity Enable. It has a specialist pre-school nursery that caters for children with disabilities, developmental delay, and additional needs.

According to Mr Owen Griffiths, who used to serve on Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn Community Council, the facility – which has been running for more than 30 years – needs a service level agreement from the council as it cannot apply for larger, long term grant funding without a financial commitment.

During business questions in the Senedd, South Wales East MS Mr Owen Griffiths said: “The centre has been requesting an agreement for the last five years. I have also heard that requests for a meeting on this matter have not been answered or acknowledged by the council in the last year.

“The situation is now critical and they face issuing redundancy notices to staff at the end of December unless something changes.”

A letter sent by the MS to the council on November 21 is still awaiting a reply, although it has been acknowledged.

Reserves held by Enable – a charity that supports the nursery – has been used for the funding shortfall but this money has “dwindled”. Mr Owen Griffiths has said that redundancy notices be issued by the end of the month ahead of the nursery’s closure early next year, without financial commitment from the council.

The MS asked Trefnydd Lesley Griffiths – the Minister who is responsible for organising government business in the Senedd: “Are you disappointed that party colleagues in power at Caerphilly are jeopardising the health and mental wellbeing of the most vulnerable with their lack of engagement and lack of financial commitment?”

Mrs Griffiths, MS for Wrexham, advised him to consult with the council.

Cllr Elaine Forehead, the council’s cabinet member for social care, said: “The council is committed to supporting early years settings across the county borough and we have a long standing positive relationship with the providers at this facility.

“We dispute the comments made by the MS about a lack of engagement and commitment for the setting. We can confirm we are in ongoing dialogue with the providers and have agreed to meet in the New Year.”