Agenda item

Early Years Review

It was moved by Councillor Jackie Drayton, seconded by Councillor  Denise Fox,  that this Council:-

(a)

regrets that a further £6.8 million reduction to the Early Intervention Grant in the coming financial year, in addition to significant reductions to funding in previous years, indicates that Government cuts are being targeted directly at services to give children, young people and families the opportunity to fulfil their potential;

(b)

completely condemns the cuts to Early Intervention Grantand recalls warnings by sector leaders that these cuts would have a significant impact on services provided by local authorities;

(c)

supports the letter by the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Deputy Prime Minister objecting to cuts to the Early Intervention Grant;

(d)

regrets that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Deputy Prime Minister refused to listen to warnings about cuts to Early Intervention Grant and included heavy reductions in the Local Government Finance Settlement;

(e)

acknowledges that proposals in the Early Years review include measures to deliver some of the savings necessitated by the Government’s cuts to the Early Intervention Grant;

(f)

further acknowledges that due to the level of the cuts to the Early Intervention Grant and the subsequent expansion of Free Early Learning, funding can no longer be identified for childcare sustainability and the Early Years Review therefore includes proposals to end grants to 16 childcare providers which is a continuation of the policy adopted by the previous Administration and notes comments by the previous Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families and current Deputy Leader of the Main Opposition Group in The Star newspaper on 7^th January 2011 "We will have significantly less money than we previously had so we have to ensure we are putting it to the best possible use, supporting the most disadvantaged families, … Tough economic times can give new opportunities to review how services are provided and to question if they are being provided in the most efficient way. It is about getting better value for money. Our funding needs to be redirected so those most in need are benefiting directly. … Centres will have to charge market rates for their services if their parents can afford them.”

(g)

regrets the potential impact that the removal of grants from the 16 childcare providers will have on their organisations, however acknowledges that this is ultimately a consequence of the Government’s decision to cut the Early Intervention Grant so heavily, as stated by the previous Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families that “we will have significantly less money than we previously had”;

(h)

is committed to making sure childcare is available in all areas across the City and understands that whilst changes in Government policy direct a change in the Council’s role towards a market facilitator, the Early Years Review identifies that temporary arrangements need to be put in place to ensure that early years provision can continue in the transitional period in between the ending of current arrangements and the expansion of Free Early Learning and welcomes that this was reconfirmed at the Scrutiny Committee meeting on 24^th January, 2013;

(i)

notes that the Early Years Review indicates longer term proposals to ensure that all providers are given the help they need to develop a sustainable business model and maximise the funding opportunities available following changes in Government policy and the development of Free Early Learning;

(j)

further notes that proposals in the Early Years Review also include changes to the organisation and management of Sheffield’s Children’s Centres, however, acknowledges that proposals in this area are to make savings to management, administration and premises costs and not to reduce the number of outlets in which services are provided, noting the statement in the Cabinet Report that there will be little impact on current service delivery to parents, however, understands that the locations of where this support is provided may change;

(k)

further notes that details of service provision following the organisational changes will be made available and any changes to locations of support will be effectively communicated to parents and welcomes that this was reconfirmed at the Scrutiny Committee meeting on 24^th January; and

(l)

further notes that any future proposals agreed following the consultation period will be subject to further scrutiny.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Colin Ross, seconded by Councillor Andrew Sangar, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the substitution of the following words therefor:-

(a)

notes the Redesign of Early Years Services agreed by the Cabinet on 12^th December, 2012;

(b)

highlights that thanks to Liberal Democrat policy of 15 hours Free Early Learning for disadvantaged 2-year-olds, £3.8 million of new funding will be invested in Sheffield next year;

(c)

yet recognises that, given funding reforms, changes have to be made to the way early years services are provided in the City;

(d)

believes the relevant Cabinet Member should not have dithered for over a year on the Early Years Review, and should have come forward earlier with concrete proposals, so that providers and parents would have longer to adapt;

(e)

is dismayed that the Cabinet are still yet to publish key details of the future model, such as how the 17 Children’s Centre Areas will work in practice, with just weeks to go until the implementation of a new system;

(f)

furthermore, highlights the threats facing voluntary and community sector organisations in adapting to the new funding system and regrets the complete lack of support that has been provided to centres who are facing a potential cliff-edge in funding;

(g)

believes local parents and providers are simply not getting a fair deal from this Council;

(h)

therefore, understands the local anger at the Cabinet, given the pitiful consultation process, which amount to an insult to parents and providers across the City;

(i)

thanks campaigners for fighting with dignity and determination to protect local services;

(j)

regrets that the work of campaigners has been subject, in the words of one campaigner, to a “flippant and derogatory reference” by the Leader of the Council and hopes the Leader of the Council will apologise;

(k)

is not surprised, given this context, that the Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee, voted unanimously to return this proposal to Cabinet for further consideration of the details of the proposals;

(l)

believes this vote, which contained members of the Administration’s group, serves as a damning assessment of the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families; and

(m)

urges the Cabinet to immediately adopt the recommendations of the Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee, specifically that the Cabinet:

(i)

considers what transitional arrangements are needed to be put in place to ensure that good quality early years provision is able to be sustained; and

(ii)

provides further details of provision within the 17 areas, and gives assurances that a comprehensive communications plan is developed to inform parents of the locations of support, and the type of support available, in the 17 new areas.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived.

It  was then moved by Councillor Robert Murphy, seconded by Councillor Penny Baker, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.

the deletion of paragraphs (c) to (k) and the addition of new paragraphs (c) to (f) as follows:-

(c)

notes increasing evidence that the environment of children in their early years is crucial to their development into contented and rounded adults;

(d)

believes that the provisional decision to cut funding to the voluntary sector providers was made without consultation with either the providers or their service users;

(e)

believes that placing early years providers at risk, many of whom have received an "outstanding" grade from Ofsted, is unacceptable given the potential for disruption of many vital services to communities in real need;

(f)

therefore requests the Cabinet to set aside the current proposals and properly consult with communities about the models of support they require;

2.

the re-lettering of paragraph (l) as a new paragraph (g).

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived.

The original Motion was then put to the vote and carried, as follows:-

RESOLVED: that this Council

(a)

regrets that a further £6.8 million reduction to the Early Intervention Grant in the coming financial year, in addition to significant reductions to funding in previous years, indicates that Government cuts are being targeted directly at services to give children, young people and families the opportunity to fulfil their potential;

(b)

completely condemns the cuts to Early Intervention Grantand recalls warnings by sector leaders that these cuts would have a significant impact on services provided by local authorities;

(c)

supports the letter by the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Deputy Prime Minister objecting to cuts to the Early Intervention Grant;

(d)

regrets that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Deputy Prime Minister refused to listen to warnings about cuts to Early Intervention Grant and included heavy reductions in the Local Government Finance Settlement;

(e)

acknowledges that proposals in the Early Years review include measures to deliver some of the savings necessitated by the Government’s cuts to the Early Intervention Grant;

(f)

further acknowledges that due to the level of the cuts to the Early Intervention Grant and the subsequent expansion of Free Early Learning, funding can no longer be identified for childcare sustainability and the Early Years Review therefore includes proposals to end grants to 16 childcare providers which is a continuation of the policy adopted by the previous Administration and notes comments by the previous Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families and current Deputy Leader of the Main Opposition Group in The Star newspaper on 7^th January 2011 "We will have significantly less money than we previously had so we have to ensure we are putting it to the best possible use, supporting the most disadvantaged families, … Tough economic times can give new opportunities to review how services are provided and to question if they are being provided in the most efficient way. It is about getting better value for money. Our funding needs to be redirected so those most in need are benefiting directly. … Centres will have to charge market rates for their services if their parents can afford them.”

(g)

regrets the potential impact that the removal of grants from the 16 childcare providers will have on their organisations, however acknowledges that this is ultimately a consequence of the Government’s decision to cut the Early Intervention Grant so heavily, as stated by the previous Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families that “we will have significantly less money than we previously had”;

(h)

is committed to making sure childcare is available in all areas across the City and understands that whilst changes in Government policy direct a change in the Council’s role towards a market facilitator, the Early Years Review identifies that temporary arrangements need to be put in place to ensure that early years provision can continue in the transitional period in between the ending of current arrangements and the expansion of Free Early Learning and welcomes that this was reconfirmed at the Scrutiny Committee meeting on 24^th January, 2013;

(i)

notes that the Early Years Review indicates longer term proposals to ensure that all providers are given the help they need to develop a sustainable business model and maximise the funding opportunities available following changes in Government policy and the development of Free Early Learning;

(j)

further notes that proposals in the Early Years Review also include changes to the organisation and management of Sheffield’s Children’s Centres, however, acknowledges that proposals in this area are to make savings to management, administration and premises costs and not to reduce the number of outlets in which services are provided, noting the statement in the Cabinet Report that there will be little impact on current service delivery to parents, however, understands that the locations of where this support is provided may change;

(k)

further notes that details of service provision following the organisational changes will be made available and any changes to locations of support will be effectively communicated to parents and welcomes that this was reconfirmed at the Scrutiny Committee meeting on 24^th January; and

(l)

further notes that any future proposals agreed following the consultation period will be subject to further scrutiny.

(Note: Councillor Robert Murphy voted for paragraphs (a), (b) and (l) and against all of the remaining paragraphs of the above motion and asked for this to be recorded.)