Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Local Communities

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/031

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

Report by Assistant Chief Executive (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 third round of bids against the criteria outlined in the guidance notes with recommendations to Cabinet.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)       approve funding for the following bids:

(i)        Ambrosden 4 Children (Ambrosden Children’s Centre);

(ii)       Donnington Doorstep (Florence Park Children’s Centre);

(iii)      St Johns Church (Grove & Wantage Children’s Centres);

(iv)     HBC Superdads (Marston Northway Children’s Centre);

(v)       Henley Baptist Church (Rainbow Children’s Centre);

(vi)     Abingdon Baby Café (North Abingdon Children’s Centre);

(vii)    Abingdon Carousel (South Abingdon Children’s Centre);

(viii)   Sunshine Centre (Sunshine Children’s Centre);

(ix)     Witney Churches (Witney Children’s Centre).

(b)     Approve the asset transfer for the following proposal:

(i)  Afflah Nursery (Florence Park Children’s Centre).

(c)       Approve funding for the following bids subject to buildings and leases being resolved:

(i)        Friends of Britannia Road (Britannia Road);

(ii)       The Kings Church (South Didcot).

(d)   Decline funding for the following bids:

(i)        Aspire & Nature Effect;

(ii)       St Mary’s Church, Chipping Norton.

(e)       Approve the maximum 12 months’ rent free period for the following buildings:

(i)        Ambrosden;

(ii)       South Abingdon.

Recommendations agreed subject to the following amendments shown in bold and strikethrough

(a)       approve funding for the following bids:

(i)        Ambrosden 4 Children (Ambrosden Children’s Centre);

(ii)       Donnington Doorstep (Florence Park Children’s Centre);

(iii)      St Johns Church (Grove & Wantage Children’s Centres);

(iv)      HBC Superdads (Marston Northway Children’s Centre);

(v)       Henley Baptist Church (Rainbow Children’s Centre);

(vi)      Abingdon Baby Café (North Abingdon Children’s Centre);

(vii)    Abingdon Carousel (South Abingdon Children’s Centre);

(viii)   Sunshine Centre (Sunshine Children’s Centre);

(ix)      Witney Churches (Witney Children’s Centre).

(b)     Approve the asset transfer for the following proposal:

(i)  Afflah Nursery (Florence Park Children’s Centre).

(b)  Approve funding for the following bids subject to buildings and leases being resolved:

a.         Friends of Britannia Road (Britannia Road);

b.         The Kings Church (South Didcot).

(c)    Decline funding for the following bids:

a.         Aspire & Nature Effect;

b.         St Mary’s Church, Chipping Norton.

(c)  Approve the maximum 12 months’ rent free period for the following buildings:

a.         Ambrosden;

b.         South Abingdon.

(d)  Defer decisions in respect of:

a.    the proposal relating to Aflah Nursery

b.    Aspire & Nature Effect bid

c.    St Mary’s Church Chipping Norton bid

with a further report to be submitted to Cabinet as soon as practicable

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 third round of bids against the criteria outlined in the guidance notes and cabinet had before them a report setting out their recommendations to Cabinet

Ms Emma Kennedy, spoke in support of the bid from St. Mary’s Church, Chipping Norton, highlighting that despite the perception of affluence it was a working town and suffered from poverty and rural isolation. The bid would provide a safety net and an open door for the most vulnerable.

In response to queries as to why local people would not use the ACE Centre Ms Kennedy commented that they focussed on a different age group. She added that the St Mary’s project dealt with people from stigmatised groups who had built relationships at St Mary’s School, were familiar with the environment and less willing to attend elsewhere.

Ms Candida March, spoke in support of the Aspire & Nature Effect bid highlighting the key role that the Florence Park building had in the community. The bid was about building a community hub where people were able to come together. Ms March expressed concerns over the Aflah Nursery project and the process resulting in today’s Florence Park recommendation.

Ms Elinor Sinclair, expressed concerns over the transfer of Florence Park to Aflah Nursery which she felt did not meet the transition fund criteria.

Mr Paul Roberts, Chief Executive Officerof Aspire spoke in support of the Aspire & Nature Effect bid. He highlighted the experience Aspire had as a social/community enterprise and their desire to work with local groups. He hoped that as a minimum Cabinet would defer any decision to allow further discussion. Cabinet noted that this was the first bid by Aspire.*

Ms Frazana Aslam, Director of Aflah Nursery spoke in support of their proposal. Ms Aslam commented that they had been a private early years provider since 2014 and rated good in July 2016. The nursery had an open admissions and recruitment policy. Ms Aslam added that there were currently 45 children on roll from 2 faith groups and of 14 different nationalities. Responding to questions from Cabinet Members Ms Aslam outlined the community activity they would undertake including parenting classes and workshops. They were conscious that the building was a community hub and would be open to all the community. The nursery had an inclusive admissions policy and had very rewarding relationships with parents not of the muslim faith. They took a very balanced approach to learning and did work on the whole range of faith celebrations and other events.

Councillor John Sanders, local councillor for Cowley expressed concerns at the make-up of the cross party working group which he felt had an over reliance on councillors  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43