Issue - meetings

Appendix 2 – is available by way of the following link - http://www.swindon.gov.uk/cd/cd-consultations/cd-consultations-current/Pages/Childrens-Centres-Consultation.aspx

          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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40