Issue - meetings
Restructuring of Children's Centre buildings/provision in Brent
Meeting: 15/02/2011 - Executive (Item 9)
9 Restructuring of Children's Centre buildings/provision in Brent PDF 209 KB
This paper sets out a proposal regarding Children’s Centre capital projects which will contribute to Children’s Centre savings in the context of budgetary reductions for 2011/12.
Decision:
(i) that agreement be given to not to build three phase three children’s centres; Sudbury, Cricklewood and Kingsbury Intergenerational Centre;
(ii) that the proposal for a further three phase three Children’s Centres; Wykeham, Preston Park and Mount Stewart to be designated as service delivery points instead of full Children's Centres, and become, via a formal agreement, the responsibility of schools on whose sites they are being developed, be explored;
(iii) that it be agreed that carrying forward the proposals in the previous two recommendations would still ensure that the Council’s network of Children’s Centres is sufficient to meet local need;
(iv) that the proposal for the relevant maintained nursery schools to take responsibility for all running costs associated with Curzon Crescent, Fawood and Granville Plus children centres, be explored;
(v) that authority be delegated to the Director of Legal and Procurement and the Director of Children and Families to finalise the terms of agreements with the governing bodies of Wykeham, Preston Park and Mount Stewart governing bodies as set out above;
(vi) that the additional savings set out in para. 4 of the report from the Director of Children and Families be pursued.
Minutes:
The Executive received the report from the Director of Children and Families which set out information on how services to children under five years were to be provided through the SureStart Grant. The report also identified how savings of £2.25m could be made within the service area in 2011/2012. Councillor Arnold (Lead Member, Children and Families). referred members to the list of 17 centres, none of which would be closing. Responsibility for a further seven would pass to schools.
In response to concerns expressed earlier in the meeting Councillor John (Chair, Leader of the Council) advised that the children centres would continue to operate full time. While formal consultation would take place on the shared service arrangements (a compromise to avoid any closures) there were no plans to remove substantive services and those in need would continue to receive services. She referred members to the recommendations in the report.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that agreement be given to not to build three phase three children’s centres; Sudbury, Cricklewood and Kingsbury Intergenerational Centre;
(ii) that the proposal for a further three phase three Children’s Centres; Wykeham, Preston Park and Mount Stewart to be designated as service delivery points instead of full Children's Centres, and become, via a formal agreement, the responsibility of schools on whose sites they are being developed, be explored;
(iii) that it be agreed that carrying forward the proposals in the previous two recommendations would still ensure that the Council’s network of Children’s Centres is sufficient to meet local need;
(iv) that the proposal for the relevant maintained nursery schools to take responsibility for all running costs associated with Curzon Crescent, Fawood and Granville Plus children centres, be explored;
(v) that authority be delegated to the Director of Legal and Procurement and the Director of Children and Families to finalise the terms of agreements with the governing bodies of Wykeham, Preston Park and Mount Stewart governing bodies as set out above;
(vi) that the additional savings set out in paragraph 4 of the report from the Director of Children and Families be pursued.