A presentation providing information on the proposed new delivery model for Children’s Centres in Bury will be given at the meeting.
Minutes:
Councillor Gill Campbell, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People and Ian Chambers, Assistant Director (Learning) gave a presentation on the proposed new delivery model for Children Centres in Bury.
The meeting was informed of the key objectives for Bury Children Centres:-
· To improve health for under 5’s – measured by higher rates of breast feeding, reduced obesity and improved dental hygiene.
· To improve child development – measured by improved school readiness and an increasing proportion of children achieving a good level of development.
· Reducing the risk of mistreatment or abuse of under 5’s – measured by reductions in the rate of family needs escalating to a level requiring family intervention.
· Improving families’ economic prospects measured by reduced numbers of under 5’s in households on benefits.
It was reported that these objectives will be used to drive resource allocation to specific centre activities. The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) rankings will be used to directly allocate overall resources – funding being directly linked to deprivation. The driver will be the number of children within a reach area for a Children Centre who are under 5 and living in a Lower Super Output Area. These are among the 40% most deprived nationally.
The presentation provided detailed information of the targeted support on offer as part of the objectives in relation to health, school readiness, early help and job readiness. Specific detail was also provided in relation to the proposed Children Centre Hubs across Bury. In Bury North, the Woodbank site would cover the reach areas of the current Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor cluster. The meeting was informed as to how each Hub would work, the staffing changes involved, outreach deployment and of the necessary steps required in order to convert the other sites in order to deliver the 2 year old offer in Bury. It was reported that from September 2014, 40% of 2 year olds should have access to free nursery places (a total of 1177 children in Bury). There was a current forecast of a shortage of 638 places (October 2014). The Council propose that Children Centres which are no longer required as Hubs will be offered as centres for the 2 year old offer.
In relation to service costs it was reported that total expenditure on Children’s Centres in 2013/14 was £2.875m. The Council had seen a reduction of the Government’s Early Intervention Grant of over £2.8m since 2012/13 and that the new proposed model of delivery will cost £1.949m which will deliver a proposed savings target for the service of £820k. The consultation period had been extended to 15 December, 2014
and, following an analysis of feedback received and subsequent consideration by Cabinet, implementation of the proposals would begin from 1 April, 2015.
Those present were invited to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:-
· Councillor Wright referred to the presentation and the proposal that the north of the borough would have one children's centre hub with just 4 outreach workers and asked whether this would be the case.
Councillor Campbell confirmed that that was the proposal and had come about due to the funding being directly linked to deprivation and the need to direct resources to areas of greater need.
· Councillor Fitzwalter stated that concerns had been raised in relation to the distances involved in travelling to Woodbank from Ramsbottom and the numbers of families accessing services from the one site.
It was explained that outreach work would be carried out in locations closer to the communities being served such as libraries and community centres and some work would be done on 1:1 basis in the families' homes. The services provided from the hubs would not be the same as what the Children's centres currently offered and as such there would be fewer people attending the hubs.
· A member of the public asked where the services such as breastfeeding support, dental hygiene classes and health and safety would be provided.
It was explained that around 40 extra health visitors would be funded and they would carry out some of the work mentioned. The council would also be looking to other partners and volunteer groups to assist with some provision. The hubs will also still have a role for these areas and would be able to signpost to different services.
· It was asked how many places for 2 yr olds would be created at the hubs.
It was explained that the current projection was around 130 places but other providers were also being sought to take up the shortfall. Some schools had expressed an interest as had smaller community groups.
It was agreed:
That the information provided be noted and Cllr Campbell and Ian Chambers be thanked for their contribution to the meeting.