Agenda item

4.1

Members of the Committee asked a number of questions, the officers’ responses to which are summarised below:

·       The Early Intervention Grant covered a range of activities such as Area Based Grant funding and Sure Start.  There had been changes to that funding and the free early learning entitlement had gone to 2 year olds. 

·       With regards to transitional arrangements, the waivers were in relation to contracts around family support.

·       There were 200 child care providers in the City, 20 of which were in receipt of grant and 4 had deemed themselves to be at risk of closure.  The Council were currently working with 2 providers to resolve rent issues and it was hoped to work with all providers to produce a good transitional plan, identify alternative providers if required, or if necessary the local authority could step in to provide services.

·       The Service had started to put together a comprehensive plan to promote the take up of 2 year old places to ensure that early access was taken up and maximised. Dialogue was important to increase the take up of the 2 year old provision, as many parents were not aware that they could receive up to 15 hours of childcare per week.  If this was used, centres could then claim funds which would assist in maintaining sustainability.

·       A series of briefing sessions were being arranged and support offered to assist providers to reorganise and utilise their facilities for 2 year olds, this was timely in that the majority of 4 years olds would be moving into school education. 

·       Capital funding was available to help providers make structural arrangements to adapt to providing for 2 year olds.

·       Since the publication of the Cabinet report there had been a lot of interest from child care providers interested in forging new partnerships. It was also noted that child minders had expressed an interest in supporting 2 year olds.

·       Discussions were ongoing with various partners in the South West of the City and it was hoped that if the recommendations outlined within the report were agreed by Cabinet, a hub would be identified as soon as possible.

·       It was important to recognise that families could suddenly become vulnerable and have immediate needs.  A Crisis Fund was in place as a safety net, so that if a family presented in crisis, the local MAST would be contacted and there would be an immediate release of what was required to support the family. 

·       There was not currently a set amount identified for the Crisis Fund, but it was intended to do so if the proposals were accepted.  Work had already begun to look at the financial implications of the aforementioned waivers.  

·       In relation to the proposed hub and outreach centre at Sharrow and Broomhill, it was noted that extensive data, such as footfall, had been collected in this respect.  Sharrow was more spread out with a lot of activity and Broomhall would continue as a satellite.

·       Several Members expressed concerns that the report and answers provided at the meeting lacked detailed information as to transitional support and timescales, local authority intervention and the Crisis Fund budget allocation.

It was confirmed that 4 centres had identified themselves at risk of closure.  Councillor Jackie Drayton stated that the Cabinet decision had not yet been made and that she did not wish to name the organisations concerned due to commercial sensitivities.  She referred to the fact that actions plans belonged to the organisations and they did not have to share them with the Council. The Authority would work on an individual basis with the organisations concerned.

Dawn Walton added that the Authority would do whatever it could to assist in looking at organisational structures, business planning and the identification of other opportunities, but could not enforce this support on the providers.

·       It was recognised that there were a number of children with special educational needs across the 20 centres and it was important to ensure that the child had access to provision in the local area, alongside a holistic approach around the family to provide specialist support from a range of professions in an inclusive way. 

·       Whilst the Local Authority would step in with its’ own resources if necessary, dialogue would always be the starting point.

·       The advisory boards would transform into local area forums linked to each children’s centre area.  These would have a have a fuller view of the locality. 

4.2

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, Executive Director and appropriate officers be requested to report to a July meeting of this Committee in order to:

(a)

report back on the transitional arrangements offered to various affected organisations; and

(b)

provide an update on the Communication Strategy and its’ effectiveness.

(NOTE 1: Prior to the passing of the above resolution, an additional resolution was moved by Councillor Colin Ross, seconded by Councillor Frost, namely that:-

(c)

That the Scrutiny Committee reiterates the need:

(i)

for substantial transitional support, including time limited financial support, to ensure that all high quality providers are able to survive;

(ii)

to publicise free early learning for 2 years olds to encourage take up; and

(iii)

to indentify the amount set aside in the crisis fund

On being put to the vote, the additional resolution was negatived).

(Note 2: The votes on the additional resolution ((c) (i) – (iii)) were ordered to be recorded and were as follows:-

Against the resolution (8)

-

Councillors Gill Furniss, Clive Skelton, Talib Hussain, Karen McGowan, Nikki Sharpe, George Lindars-Hammond, Mohammad Maroof and Geoff Smith

For the resolution (6)

-

Councillors Rob Frost, Keith Hill, Colin Ross, Andrew Sangar, and Jules Jones and Joan Stratford

Abstentions (0)

-

Nil