Decision details

          The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and the Board Director, Commissioning submitted a joint report concerning (a) the outcome of the consultation that had been undertaken on proposed changes to the Children’s Centre service to focus better the service in the areas of the Borough with the highest number of vulnerable children and to contribute to required budget savings, and (b) proposed changes to the original proposals arising from consultation responses.

          The Chair invited Mr Mark Tidey on behalf of the Butterflies Centre petitioners (a petition of 1041 signatures plus 141 “on-line”), and Mrs Pamela Adams on behalf of the Ladybirds Centre petitioners (a petition of 244 signatures) to address the Cabinet to explain the background to and reasons for their petitions. Each petition sought the Council to reconsider its proposals and retain with funding their local Children’s Centres.

          Councillor Fionuala Foley, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, thanked the petitioners for their presentations and expressed her appreciation for all those who had participated in the consultation. She explained the background to the proposal to review Children’s Centre provision in Swindon and referred to the wide-ranging consultation on the proposals that had been undertaken. She commented on how, as a result of the consultation responses, certain of the recommendations had been changed. She reminded Cabinet colleagues and the public of the budget pressures the Council faced and the need for it to focus its limited resources in the most effective way to support the most vulnerable children. She advised that Council was required to make difficult decisions and she believed that it was important for the Council to both listen to the responses it had received and to concentrate its limited resources in ways that directly supported the most vulnerable children and families in need of help. She commented on how the proposed additional funding would be used to seek to access vulnerable families across the Borough, particularly in those areas with no direct access to a Children’s Centre. She highlighted the role that the proposed multi-generational family centres would undertake and the significance and importance of the role to be played by Health Visitors in signposting parents to the sources of help and support that was available.

          Councillor Foley referred to paragraph 3.3.4 of the joint report and that this should more appropriately refer to “parent and toddler groups” rather than “mother and toddler groups” and she thanked the person who had highlighted this at the “Open Forum” held prior to the meeting. She advised that she had noted the comments expressed at the “Open Forum” and the strength of feeling involved. However, she remained convinced that the revised proposals offered the best way forward in difficult circumstances.

          Councillor Jim Grant, Leader of the Opposition, expressed his opposition to the proposals and drew attention to the comments within Appendix 1 to the joint report that stated “the general tenor of the response from parents, current and past users and professionals was strongly opposed to the plan”. He asked whether the proposal would result in more social care referrals with resulting costs for the Borough and would lead to more isolated young families as they lost a facility that provided the opportunity for mutual support and access to professional services. He referred to the choice available to the Council on how it spent the limited resources that were available to it and to his belief that funding was more appropriately spent on supporting Children’s Centres rather than on interest charges associated with a car park.

          Councillor Foley reiterated the difficult financial challenges the Council faced and emphasised how the revised proposals sought to support families across the Borough whilst retaining Children’s Centres in the areas with the highest density of most vulnerable families. She commented on the key role of health visitors by way of “signposting” as they had direct access to families rather than support relying on families accessing a Centre.

          Councillor Garry Perkins, Cabinet Member for the Economy, Regeneration and Skills, responded to comments regarding the Council’s investment in a new Town Centre Car Park and his belief that this project was a significant benefit to the Borough and its economy.

          Councillor Stan Pajak, Leader of the Minority Group on the Council, referred to the difficult decisions and choices facing the Council. His Group was supportive of retaining all the current Children’s Centre and he believed that consideration should be given to the option of an increase in Council Tax to help achieve this.

          Councillor Mark Dempsey enquired whether the Cabinet Member was confident that there would be no decision to close further Children’s Centres next year and if there were further changes, would she be resigning from the Cabinet. He asked whether the Council would be seeking to monitor the number of referrals to Social Care from families that had previously attended a closed Children’s Centre or were from areas where the service had been withdrawn.

          Councillor Foley commented that she was committed to her previous statements on these matters and that the type of data collection proposed would not provide any meaningful information regarding the role played in the referral process by the presence of a former Children’s Centre or by the lack of one.

          Councillor Russell Holland, Cabinet Member for Finance, referred to the financial context in which the service operated and the pressures that it faced.

          Councillor Kevin Small commented that Councillor Holland had explained clearly the financial context in which the Cabinet had produced its proposals. However, he felt that the service context for such proposals had not been made clear and needed clarification.

          Councillor Brian Mattock, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, referred to the increasing pressures on Council funding and on Adult and Children’s Care. He thanked the Cabinet Member and the officers for the way in which they had responded to these challenges and had listened to the feedback arising from the consultation and revised their proposals where this was possible to support vulnerable families.    

          Councillor Foley reiterated her thanks to the officers and to all who had contributed to the consultation. The Cabinet had difficult decisions to make but its priority remained to protect the most vulnerable making best use of the resources available to it.

          Resolved – (1) That the responses to the consultation carried out on the proposals for changes to Children’s Centre provision in Swindon, as set out in Appendix 1 to the joint report, be noted.

          (2) That the approach in relation to improving children’s lives in those areas with the most vulnerable children and families as set out in the joint report, be endorsed.

          (3) That it be noted that the following Children’s Centres will remain unchanged: Penhill and Pinehurst, Moredon, Drove, Gorse Hill (referred to as the Supercluster), and Parks and Walcot East.

          (4) That the following seven Children’s Centres be de-commissioned: Eldene, Croft, Butterflies, Ladybird, Saltway, Robert le Kyng and West Swindon.

          (5) That two multi-generational family centres be established in Abbey Meads/Greenmeadow (Butterflies) and West Swindon (West Swindon Family Project) using two thirds of their existing funding based on the Budget 2014/15 for a two year period.

          (6) That the Group Director Commissioning (DCS/DASS) be authorised to work with stakeholders and parents in developing how multi-generational family centres will operate and to ensure that evidence based support for families with children under three is part of the model.

          (7) That family support outreach work be developed across those areas of Swindon and Highworth without a Children’s Centre so that vulnerable families are supported to build self-supporting groups, and that there is increased support from volunteers and evidence based parenting groups.

          (8) That, further to the decision in (7) above, it be noted that priority will be given to families living in areas with high numbers of vulnerable children, for example Eldene, East Wichelstowe and parts of central Swindon. 

          (9) That, further to the decision in (7) above, it be noted that there will also be a service in Highworth and Stratton.

          (10) That, further to the decision in (7) above, the allocation of £194,000 one off resources over two years be included as part of the wider Council-wide draft Budget to be considered by the Cabinet on 22nd October 2014. (Minute 41(8) refers.)

          (11) That it be noted that the decisions set out in (7) to (10) above address some of the concerns raised by interested parties and the public in the consultation.

          (12) That the Board Director Commissioning (DCS/DASS) be authorised to implement the above proposals by 31st March 2015.

          (13) That the Director of Law and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and the Board Directors for Commissioning (DCS/DASS) and Resources, be authorised to agree terms and conditions on which any changes to lease arrangements would be made to protect the Council’s interests and ensure continued use of Children’s Centre buildings for services for children and families.

          (14) That the petitioners and all those who contributed to the consultation exercise on proposed changes to the Children’s Centre service, be thanked for their involvement and contribution.

          The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in this minute and the report to the meeting.