Decision details

The current contracts for children’s centres finish in June 2016 and the Council has entered into a procurement process for the re-provision of children’s centre services across Wiltshire.

This report provides information on the background to the project, an update on the outcome of the tender evaluation process, and the Children’s Centre Services Re-design Steering Group’s recommendation to proceed to formal award of contracts.

This recommendation is to be agreed by Cllr Laura Mayes as a Delegated Decision as agreed by Wiltshire Council Cabinet on 15^th December 2015.

Proposal

The Lead Member for Children’s Services (under delegated decision making powers) is asked to confirm acceptance of the decision to award the contracts to successful bidders as set out in this paper and to delegate authority to the Associate Director (Commissioning, Performance and School effectiveness) in consultation with the Associate Director (Legal and Governance) to finalise and enter into the new Children’s Centre Services Contracts and all associated documents including property documents and LGPS related documents.

Decision Made:          

I approve that the proposals be implemented as outlined in the report.

This decision was published on 11 April 2016 and will come into force on  19 April 2016.           

This proposal is made in the context of needing to find ways to continue to meet the needs of young children and their families through re-shaping service delivery whilst looking at opportunities to save money.  The award of contracts to run children’s centre services across four clusters will ensure that the Council maximises support in the most deprived areas whilst retaining some access to children’s centre services across the county.

i)             To award the contracts

ii)            To not award the contracts

Public consultation on proposed changes to delivery of children’s centre services commenced on 17^th September and ended on November 6^th 2015. During the consultation period, officers attended 44 events to present the proposals and seek feedback including at Area Board meetings (where invited), Children’s Centre Advisory Boards, parent consultation meetings in each area and a range of professional meetings including with Health Visitors, Midwives, District Specialist Centre leads and Early Years Professionals. Letters were received from Town Councils in some areas, from schools and a GP practice.

Following feedback from this consultation proposals were updated and agreed at Council Cabinet on Cabinet on 15^th December 2015.