Issue - meetings

Members are provided with a report which outlines why the Council is proposing moving children’s centre services from buildings to community venues and the related consultation process it is undertaking.

Members are asked to provide comments on the report prior to this Cabinet decision on 30^th April 2019.

A report by the Director of Commissioning was received which set out why the Council was proposing moving children’s centre services from buildings to community venues and the related consultation process it was undertaking.  This subject was due to be brought to Cabinet on 30 April 2019 and Members were asked to provide comments on the report prior to the Cabinet decision.

The Director explained that the Council was facing reduced funding and, to meet the budget gap in 2019-20, services had been reviewed to identify whether they could be delivered more efficiently. In reviewing children’s centres, the Council had considered what savings could be made without having a significant impact on frontline services. Based on the successful use of wider community venues for children’s centre services rather than tie money up in the running costs of buildings,

it was being proposed that the number of buildings be reduced by six and more services be delivered in the community where they were needed and where the families could easily access them. This was a development of the work that was already taking place and followed discussions at contract meetings with providers about how efficiencies could be made with the least impact on services for the most disadvantaged families. Saving money on buildings meant that delivery of staff would be retained and able to work with families. The centres that would be de-commissioned were in the less deprived areas and had very little service delivery taking place in the buildings.  It was anticipated that these changes would achieve savings of £250,000 in 2019-20.   

The Committee noted that 10 consultation events had taken place in different parts of Wiltshire and all had been very positive.  It was ascertained that parents were very keen that the services be maintained but not necessarily in the current children’s centre buildings.  By way of example, it was pointed out that the Longfield Community Centre in Trowbridge was well used rather than the Longfield Children’s Centre.

After further discusiion,

Resolved:

To establish a rapid scrutiny exercise on the Children’s Centre Buildings Consultation to examine the results of the consultation, the proposed closures and plans for alternative provision, and investigate the potential scope for further scrutiny.