Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2016/113

Contact: Sarah Jelley, Senior Policy & Performance Officer Tel: 07554 103437

Report by the Chief Policy Officer (CA6).

In February 2016 the council agreed to set aside £1m for creating a ‘one off’ fund to provide pump priming to support Children’s Centres.  It was agreed that a cross party group of county councillors would consider maximum benefit of this fund and bring proposals back to Cabinet for decision.

The working group have considered the applications under the first round of bids against the criteria outlined in the guidance notes with recommendations to Cabinet.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)      approve for funding the following bids:

a.               Butterfly Meadows

b.               Carterton Town Council

c.               Botley Bridges

d.               Grandpont Nursery

e.               St Nicholas Primary School

f.                Sharing Life Trust

(b)      ask that further work is conducted to develop more robust business plans and reapply for funding under the next round of applications:

a.               Barton Community Association

b.               Employment Action Group

c.               Chalgrove Primary School

d.               Cutteslowe Primary School

e.               The Nature Effect

f.                Magpies Pre-School

g.               Friends of Maple Tree Children’s Centre & Wheatley Nursery School

h.               Oxfordshire Play Association

(c)      decline for funding the following bids:

a.               Donnington Doorstep

b.               The Happy Hub

c.               Lord Williams School

Recommendations agreed.

In February 2016 the council agreed to set aside £1m for creating a ‘one off’ fund to provide pump priming to support Children’s Centres.  It was agreed that a cross party group of county councillors would consider maximum benefit of this fund and bring proposals back to Cabinet for decision.

The working group have considered the applications under the first round of bids against the criteria outlined in the guidance notes and Cabinet considered a report setting out their recommendations.

Councillor Jean Fooks, local councillor for Wolvercote & Summertown noted that the report referred to the need to help those people and families identified as vulnerable. However she was concerned that preventative and universal services had suffered and stressed the importance of keeping some universal services in all areas of the County.

Councillor Gill Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Children, & Family Services & Education supported the comments from Councillor Fooks recognising the importance of keeping as many centres open as possible. She commended the work of the cross party group and was pleased to see that 6 groups were to be funded with other requiring further work. She queried the support available to groups to complete the process which would be difficult for those without experience. Referring to the balance still available Councillor Sanders asked how that money would be protected and used appropriately.

Councillor Tilley, Cabinet Member for Children & Family Services, responding to the comments made confirmed that all groups were being put in touch with OCVA and received help from officers. Councillor Stratford, Cabinet Member for Finance gave an assurance that he anticipated the funding would remain and will be taken up over the next few years. The position in terms of the need for further rounds would be reviewed at the end of the second round process.

During discussion Councillor Hudspeth advised that Councillor Mallon who could not attend wished to make known his strong support for the Butterfly Meadow. Cabinet thanked Sarah Jelley and other officers involved in the process so far.

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)       approve for funding the following bids:

a.               Butterfly Meadows

b.               Carterton Town Council

c.                Botley Bridges

d.               Grandpont Nursery

e.               St Nicholas Primary School

f.                Sharing Life Trust

(b)       ask that further work is conducted to develop more robust business plans and reapply for funding under the next round of applications:

a.               Barton Community Association

b.               Employment Action Group

c.                Chalgrove Primary School

d.               Cutteslowe Primary School

e.               The Nature Effect

f.                Magpies Pre-School

g.               Friends of Maple Tree Children’s Centre & Wheatley Nursery School

h.               Oxfordshire Play Association

(c)       decline for funding the following bids:

a.               Donnington Doorstep

b.               The Happy Hub

c.                        Lord Williams School