Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Local Communities

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/092

Contact: Samantha Shepherd, Senior Policy Officer Tel: 07789 088173

Report by Policy & Performance Service Manager (CA16).

In February 2016 the council agreed to set aside £1m to create a 'one off' fund to provide pump priming to support the provision of open access children's services. 

Following 7 bidding rounds, an outstanding sum of £218,889 was identified. A final bidding round invited those organisations previously in receipt of Transition funding to apply to the fund for schemes to support their long-term sustainability.

In this round 30 bids were submitted for consideration, a cross-party panel of councillors has assessed the applications against the criteria outlined in the guidance notes, and brought their recommendations to Cabinet for decision.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)          Approve the recommendations of the cross-party panel for grant awards totalling £198,268.70against a total available budget of £218,889 (see Appendix A for a summary of recommendations, and Annex 1 for the full rationale for panel decisions).

(b)          Approve the proposal of the panel to utilise the remaining £20,620.30 to provide a training and support package to all groups delivering open access children’s services, which seeks to increase the long-term sustainability of these services.

(c)          Give delegated authority to the Policy & Performance Service Manager to agree training and support packages in consultation with the cross-party panel and Cabinet Member for Local Communities.

Recommendations agreed including in respect of the additional recommendation of the Cross Party Group set out in the addenda.

In February 2016, the council had agreed to set aside £1m to create a 'one off' fund to provide pump priming to support the provision of open access children's services. 

Following 7 bidding rounds, an outstanding sum of £218,889 was identified. A final bidding round invited those organisations previously in receipt of Transition funding to apply to the fund for schemes to support their long-term sustainability.

In this round 31 bids were submitted for consideration, including the bid set out in the addenda. Cabinet had before it a report and addenda which set out the findings of a cross-party panel of councillors who had assessed the applications against the criteria outlined in the guidance notes and brought their recommendations to Cabinet for decision.

Anne Purse, speaking on behalf of The Maple Tree children’s centre stated that the Centre was not alone in feeling that the County Council had fallen below their usual standards of fairness, rationality and consistency in this process. She stated that the Council had been swamped by demand and had changed and adjusted their criteria in the light of that. This was unfair in general and she felt that it had worked against The Maple Tree in particular. The Centre had sought advice about the acceptability of a capital bid and had been advised that it would be acceptable if other criteria were met. Ms Purse outlined the bid that had been made.

In response to questions from cabinet members Ms Purse reiterated that they had sought advice and been advised that a capital bid was acceptable. The Centre was still in discussion about whether they could obtain funding through the Councillor Priority Fund.

Councillor Gray, as Chairman of the cross-party panel confirmed that the Panel did not feel that the bid met the criteria. They had agreed only one very small capital bid and turned down other capital bids. The out reach work was seen as new business.

Ben Threadgold, presented the contents of the report and addenda.

Councillor Gray in moving the recommendations highlighted that the focus of the panel had been very much on sustainability. He thanked all involved in the panel.

RESOLVED: to:

(a)         approve the recommendations of the cross-party panel for grant awards totalling £198,268.70 against a total available budget of £218,889 (see Appendix A of the report for a summary of recommendations; and

(b)         approve the proposal of the panel to utilise the remaining £20,620.30 to provide a training and support package to all groups delivering open access children’s services, which seeks to increase the long-term sustainability of these services;

(c)          give delegated authority to the Policy & Performance Service Manager to agree training and support packages in consultation with the cross-party panel and Cabinet Member for Local Communities.