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 15th 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 type: Key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)
Notice of proposed decision first published: 01/04/2016
Decision due: 10 Apr 2016 by Cabinet Member for Children's Services
Lead member: Cllr Laura Mayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education, and Skills laura.mayes@wiltshire.gov.uk
Department: Joint Commissioning
Contact: Alison Elliott (Director - Commissioning) Julia Cramp, Associate Director – Commissioning, Performance and School Effectiveness, 01225 718221, Email: julia.cramp@wiltshire.gov.uk.
Consultation process
Public consultation on proposed changes to delivery of children’s centre services commenced on 17th September and ended on November 6th 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 15th December 2015.