Agenda item

A verbal update report was presented to the committee by Rik Boxer (Assistant Director, Achievement and Inclusion) on the provision of services for children with disabilities. Rik Boxer noted that this item had been added as a standing item on the committee's work programme, following the decision taken by the Executive at its meeting on 23 May 2011 to restructure the short term break offer provided by the Council. The restructure of the service encompassed the closure of the centre at Crawford Avenue and the provision of an enhanced service at the centre on Clement Close. He further clarified that the report did not aim to revisit the decision of the Executive but rather to update members on the implementation of the decision.

Rik Boxer informed the committee that on 23 August 2011 a judicial review had been filed against the decision of the Executive to close the centre at Crawford Avenue and restructure the provision of services for children with disabilities. The judicial review had since been concluded and notice of the outcome was expected imminently.

The schedule for implementation of the Executive's decision had been delayed as a result of the judicial review. It had been intended that the expanded service at Clement Close would be in place by October 2011 and in order to achieve this, a comprehensive staff training programme and a series of capital works had been planned. However, until the results of the judicial review were known, the centre at Crawford Avenue had remained open and the staff training programme and capital works had been put on hold. As part of the implementation of the Executive's decision, it had been intended to secure an independent adviser to provide advice and guidance to parents in choosing the most appropriate service options for their children. The committee was advised that an independent adviser was now in place.

The committee was reminded that the restructure of these services reflected the council's longer term strategy to concentrate the council's short break service for children with disabilities in a single site, namely that of the Village School. This centre was due to be open in late 2012 and the development of the site was currently on schedule. The building would be finished by early 2012 to allow sufficient time for the required Ofsted inspection to be conducted, which could take up to six months to complete.

During members’ discussion, Councillor Harrison sought further information with respect to the implications of the staff at Crawford Avenue having been notified of their redundancy but the centre currently remaining open. Rik Boxer confirmed that the redundancy notices were issued to staff prior to the judicial review being submitted. The nine members of staff to whom these notices had been issued currently had the option to take their redundancy and discussions had been held with each staff member. Any individuals that did leave whilst the centre remained open would have to be replaced in order to maintain service delivery and a decision as to the best way to do this would have to be made.

RESOLVED: - that the verbal report be noted.