Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Local Communities

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/093

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

Report by Assistance Chief Executive (CA6).

This report deals with the undetermined decisions from the 18th July Cabinet about the Florence Park site. The report also looks at the expenditure against the ‘one off’ £1m fund to provide pump priming to support community-led solutions for delivering open-access services for children and families agreed by Council in February 2017.  Following three rounds of grant funding and allocations to twenty six organisations, there is a remaining balance of £262,674. The report outlines the proposed approach to managing and allocating the remaining budget.

The Cabinet is asked to make the following decisions:

(a)  Regarding the future use of the Florence Park site:

·                     Option 1 – Support the proposal for asset transfer for Aflah Nursery (potentially subject to any further requirements that Cabinet may determine)

·                     Option 2 – Support the proposal for asset transfer and transition fund grant for Aspire (potentially subject to any further requirements that Cabinet may determine)

·                     Option 3 – Decline both proposals and seek an alternative solution

(b)Approve the proposed use of the transition fund underspend.

Cabinet considered a report that related to the undetermined decisions from the 18th July Cabinet about the Florence Park site. The report also detailed the expenditure against the ‘one off’ £1m fund to provide pump priming to support community-led solutions for delivering open-access services for children and families agreed by Council in February 2017 and sought approval to the proposed approach to managing and allocating the remaining budget.

Mr Aquib Hafeez, Aflah Nursery, spoke in support of the proposal from the Nursery. He commented that although he was unable to guarantee 40 new nursery places at this time it would be possible should the asset transfer go ahead. The Nursery was keen to pursue working with Aspire and stated that it was not they that were unable to work alongside one another. He added that they were a well established and steadily growing nursey and that Florence Park was an ideal solution for them to continue to grow with little upheaval for the current children. They had not been found outstanding by Ofsted due to the lack of space.

Ms Misbah Rishi Hafeez, Aflah Nursery, stated that as a teacher who had taught all groups she was very aware that teaching was only part of it. She expressed how shaken she had been by attitudes expressed to Cabinet at its meeting in July that did not express community spirit. She had felt that there had been a lack of basic respect in remarks that she had found unacceptable. She felt that there had been false assumptions and stressed that whilst they were a private organisation they were seeking to fulfil the needs of the local community. She thanked the Cabinet member for his efforts throughout the lengthy process.

Cabinet expressed dismay to hear of animosity and aggression towards those involved in the nursery bid and made it clear that they were appreciative of both bids. In response Ms Rishi Hafeez stated that Cabinet had dealt with it to the best of their ability at that point and that the Nursery would respect the decision of Cabinet today.

Councillor Linda Smith, Board Member for Leisure, Parks and Sport, Oxford City Council, supported the bid from Aspire. She commented that this in no way was a reflection on the high quality nursery provision from Aflah but rather that Aspire provided the best opportunity to recreate the broad range of services formerly provided by the regrettably closed Children’s Centre. The City Council had agreed to provide £15,000 one-off matched contribution towards the project. Councillor Smith, referring to the café, added that the City Council would not allow the café contract to be a barrier to the scheme.

Jane Gallagher, speaking as a Florence Park area resident and qualified teacher supported the Aspire bid. She highlighted that it was a public building in a public park and was no place for a private business. She wished Aflah well. In response to a query from Councillor Gray as to her views on the existing café which was also a private concern Ms Gallagher replied that it was there to serve the whole community.

Mr Chris Sewell, spoke as a professional involved in building the new centre which had replaced the old Family Centre that had previously been based in the Park. He supported the Aspire bid as it came closest to the original vision for the centre. There was an open access model serving the needs of the local community; making the most of a design that provided a mixture of facilities and given its location in a public park giving access to all to urban spaces.

Mr Alexander Massey Member of the local Stakeholder Steering Group for the bid, highlighted the way in which the community had come together to self organise and outlined the detailed work undertaken by the Steering Group. He felt that the bid was bold, exciting and practical. 

Dr Hilary Walker, a local resident speaking with relevant career experience stated that the evidence was that families benefitted from open access, universal services. Drop in facilities, stay and play in a café setting enhances the experience and was there for all families.

Rev Elizabeth Allison-Glenny, highlighted the importance of open access which ever proposal was successful. As a local mum she had found the former services a vital intervention at the right time. The drop in facility had provided a community and reduced feelings of social isolation.

Mr Terry Tran-Nguyen, stated that he and his partner were local residents and proud parents. His parents as refugees had found the support of local groups invaluable and at 70 were still involved through the links they had made. He supported the Aspire bid to provide community services. The bid resonated with his values and he was willing to volunteer time and skills.

Nick Lunch, highlighted the need for a physical space and that the Aspire bid gave a community hub by the community for the community. Locasl people were experts on what affects them and the centre would allow links across the generational divide. It had created new volunteers and provided an alternative model at a time when these were needed.

Ms Lesley Williams, a local resident of Church Cowley spoke in support of the Aspire bid, highlighting the benefits of intergenerational learning and the links betwens the nursery, productive café and garden.

Ms Candida March, Member of Stakeholder Steering Group for Aspire's bid for Florence Park Children's Centre, was considerably upset to hear how those concerned with the Aflah Nursery had felt following the July meeting of Cabinet. Although not in support of that proposal Ms March wanted to stress that she recognised the value. She wanted to find a way forward to ensure there were no divisions and to work with local community champions to ensure diversity.

Mr Paul Roberts, CEO of Aspire , Oxford, referred to the operating history of Aspire over 16 years. He reiterated the organisation’s commitment to the project. It was for a community owned, community led facility which would be genuinely open access. He referred to the revised and enhanced application and expressed confidence that funders would want to be ivolved. H e accepted that it was a bold project, not without risk but that it was a community led solution. Responding to concerns about the funding Mr Roberts referred to the Business Plan which set out funding over the first few years and a project outline going forward. Asked how many nursery places could be provided Mr Roberts stated that 24 entirely additional places could be created from April 2018. He doubted that the 40 places as set out in the sufficiency report was the number required.

Councillor Jamila Begum Azad, local councillor for St Clements & Cowley Marsh, commented that she had not been involved in the various meetings held and expressed the wish to see a joint solution. She hoped that the groups could come together as it was an amazing building which it was sad to see shut down. Asked to comment that the evidence was that the two groups could not work together Councillor Begum Azad replied that Aflah Nursey did not want the whole building, just half of it.

Councillor John Sanders, local councillor for Cowley, highlighted the community support for the Aspire bid, including the 1600 signature petition submitted to the July meeting. A compromise had been explored and was not possible. It was a difficult situation as Aflah Nursery premises were unsuitable and Aspire had none. He supported Aspire being successful in their bid for Florence Park with Aflah Nursery remaining where they were with work to find alternative premises.

Councillor Helen Evans, local councillor for Iffley Fields and St Mary’s in supporting Aspire reflected on the process to date, which had been a tough process for the community. Everyone cared and as a County Council there was a need to reflect to avoid a similar position in future with a community under huge pressure. She felt that the Aspire bid was a model for a good community bid with the opportunity to do something really special.

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Opposition Leader, commented that the difficult decision before Cabinet was due to attempting to deal with two matters at once. Firstly the dispersal of the open access transition fund to close gaps in provision when Children’s Centres closed. Secondly to address the government policy on nursery places for 2 and 3 year olds. She welcomed the gap analysis work carried out by officers. She asked Cabinet to go back to first principles and to look at asset transfer to see what can be done for those nursery places. Councillor Brighouse hoped they would be able to come to a wise decision and would also reflect on the future.

Maggie Scott, Assistant Chief Executive, outlined the contents of the report and the decisions needed on the two issues set out in the report. She detailed the further work that had been carried out following the July Cabinet meeting.

She commented that neither bid fully fit the requirements but that with conditions either bid could be made to work. The report set out options that the Cabinet was being asked to decide upon.

During discussion Cabinet:

1.            Considered the options set out in the paper and explored how the figures for additional nursery places had been reached.

2.            Discounted Option 3 recognising that there was a need for the additional places and that this needed to be addressed.

3.            Sought assurances that given that neither bid fully met the criteria that the successful bid was not being set up to fail. Sarah Jelley explained the lease negotiations that would take place. This had been done with a number of groups and would aim to give either group the best possible chance to continue. Provision would be monitored and any problems would be reported to members.

4.            Noted that the two groups had been unable to find a way to work together.

5.            Highlighted the community support behind the Aspire bid and recognised the importance of such support.

6.            Commended the value of the work of Aflah Nursery.

In moving Option 2 (the Aspire bid) Councillor Harrod proposed an amendment to the recommendation to provide active and positive support to assist Aflah Nursery finding alternative premises.

In considering the underspend Councillor Bartholomew proposed that Aflah Nursery be invited to reformat their proposal as appropriate to re-apply under the new scheme for transition funding should they so wish.

RESOLVED:

(a)          Regarding the future use of the Florence Park site to support the proposal for asset transfer and transition fund grant for Aspire. Cabinet further agreed to provide active and positive support to assist Aflah Nursery finding alternative premises; and

(b)          To approve the proposed use of the transition fund underspend and to invite Aflah Nursery to reformat their proposal as appropriate to re-apply under the new scheme for transition funding should they so wish.