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Ms Ali Barton, a mother and concerned member of the public spoke to the Children's Services Service Delivery Review in the public forum at the Wingecarribee Shire Council meeting on November 27.

In her public forum address, Ms Barton called on councillors to consider option five of the recommendations that had been put forward.

Option five states that Wingecarribee Shire Council will continue in direct service delivery for both Family Day Care and WOOSH for a period of three years and that a further service delivery review be conducted after two years.

"Without [the family day care service] I could not have returned to work," Ms Barton said.

"I urge you to select option five of the review to continue in direct delivery of services.

"It does not make sense to cut children's services.

"It does not make sense that a panel of councillors, who in all likelihood and correct me if I'm wrong, have had no experience in organising and selecting a child care setting, nor manipulating their work day around school drop offs and pick ups, nor indeed experienced the mother's guilt by leaving their child in another's care so that they may return to work, should be the one's who decide the fate of the Wingecarribee Children's Services."

Councillor Larry Whipper opted to move option five, which was seconded by Councillor Graham McLaughlin.

Speaking for the motion, Cr Whipper said that he understood and sympathised with Ms Barton and other parents affected and urged other councillors to vote for the motion put forward.

"I know the value of day care," he said.

"Let me tell you, this old man was a house husband 30 years ago where I brought up my children when my wife pursued an education and we relied heavily on day care.

"I know the value and the responsibilities that is placed generally on the shoulder of women in our society and how difficult it is to be a mother, a carer, to have a job at the same time.

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"Services like these are critically important.

"This is about the need for council to understand and acknowledge that our community is important and that we have a responsibility not only a moral responsibility but a social responsibility.

"This is a good way to do it.

"So councillors, support this. I think it's critically important to do that."

Cr McLaughlin seconded Cr Whipper's motion.

"It's core business of this community to support this," he said.

"We're the local government, the government closest to the people. If we aren't going to support this, who will?"

Councillor Ken Halstead also spoke in favour of option five.

"My god I've heard everything. I cannot believe this being put forward the way it has been," he said.

"The most important issues in my opinion. I don't play politics, I'm not playing politics, I don't, I never have and I never will.

"I've had enough of the attacks on social services and this is a classic [attack].

"I have three sons, six grand-kids and they call use these services or services like these.

"These organisations we set up, the council's set up hold the private sector to account.

"We've held the ground so far, I think option 5 is it.

"It does give assurance for three years, and I am glad the union got involved in this one because sometimes that has to happen to represent people."

Speaking against the motion was Councillor Ian Scandrett.

"Quite frankly this matter appalls me and a whole bunch of us pushed back on this," he said.

"We pushed back on this because primarily the staff hadn't been consulted on all the true facts as opposed to seeking information from them professionally."

Mayor Duncan Gair threw his support behind Cr Whipper's motion.

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"It gives staff who are present tonight and those who are not the certainty that they will be here for three years," he said.

"We are going to run this service for three years.

"The decisions we make, affects people's lives in some way. It doesn't matter what decision we make, it affects people and this one I think is going to affect a lot of people.

"I was a single parent with four kids, I happen to know a little know about this.

"I know some of the staff and I know some of the families brought up by [these services] and it's a bit of a community in this day care.

"This council I believe, when you look at the services we provide across the shire to various committees and organisations, we have a very strong social conscience.

"And I think this is showing that we do listen, we do take your concerns in to consideration."

The motion was passed with Councillor Whipper, Councillor McLaughlin, Councillor Halstead, Councillor Peter Nelson, Councillor Grahame Andrews, Councillor Garry Turland and Mayor Duncan Gair voting for option five.

Councillor Ian Scandrett voted against.