Agenda item

Early Years Review (2)

It was moved by Councillor Colin Ross, seconded by Councillor Andrew Sangar, that this Council:-

(a)

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

(b)

understands the anger from parents and providers at the proposals, given the pitiful consultation process and the ongoing lack of detail regarding the future model;

(c)

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

(d)

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;

(e)

however, regrets the lack of support that has been provided to voluntary and community sector organisations to adapt to the new funding system, leaving many facing a potential cliff-edge in funding;

(f)

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

(g)

notes the recommendations of the Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee, agreed by all Labour members, 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; and

(h)

calls upon the Cabinet to seriously reconsider their proposals for local children’s centres in line with the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Jackie Drayton, seconded by Councillor Julie Dore, 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)

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 Grant and 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 7th 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 24th 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 24th January; and

(l)

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

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

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

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 Grant and 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 7th 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 24th 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 24th January; and

(l)

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