Issue - meetings

Members of this committee received a report outlining the Council’s proposals for moving children’s centre services from buildings to community settings and the consultation process in March 2019. Following discussion, it was resolved that a rapid scrutiny exercise be arranged to examine the results of the consultation, the proposed closures and plans for alternative venues, and investigate the potential scope for further scrutiny

On 15th May the Children’s Select Committee endorsed the rapid scrutiny exercise’s report and recommendations and resolved to refer the recommendations to the relevant Cabinet member for response at this meeting.

The committee are asked to consider and note the executive responses which will be provided.

The Committee received a report which set out the response of the Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Skills to the Report of the Children’s Centres Consultation Rapid Scrutiny Exercise.

On 15 May 2019 the Children’s Select Committee endorsed the Rapid Scrutiny Exercises’ s report and recommendations and resolved to refer the recommendations to the relevant Cabinet Member for response at this meeting.

The Cabinet Member reported that all the recommendations had been agreed and also the following supporting information as set out in Appendices 1 – 4 of the report included regarding the requests in the recommendations:-

·                Appendix 1: Alternative venues

·                Appendix 2: Children’s Centre Services Monitoring framework

·                Appendix 3: Sample contract monitoring agenda

·                Appendix 4: Implementation of Children’s Centre Services changes

During discussion, Members expressed their appreciation that all the recommendations had been agreed. However, it was pointed out that one of the key outstanding issues was lack of general public awareness of the available facilities and the need to ensure that families were fully aware of the forthcoming changes.  Members were informed of the various ways in which this service was brought to the attention of the general public, including the use of community websites and notice boards. The Cabinet Member suggested that it would be useful for officers to consider marketing the provision of Children’s Centres.

Members were informed that all the new venues were subject to a 6 to 12 month   contract with the Council for the hiring of accommodation for children’s services and these contracts were open ended. It was stressed that relationships with partners regarding this provision was very good.

Resolved:

To note the executive response to the Report of the Children’s Centres Consultation Rapid Scrutiny Exercise and to thank the Task Group and officers for the work undertaken.