Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

There were none.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer or a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

There was none, although the Chair did announce that the Corporate Parenting Group meeting on Friday 12^th September had been cancelled.

There were none.

The Panel confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting as a true record and they were duly signed by the Chair.

The Panel will receive and comment on the report to Cabinet at their meeting on September 8th prior to the Cabinet meeting on September 10th.

The Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children & Youth, Councillor Dine Romero introduced this item to the Panel. She explained that all of the Children’s Centres would remain open and that unlike other authorities this would not be at the expense of an increase in Council Tax.

She added that the operating times of the centres would remain the same and that the one situated in Weston was about to start delivering some externally commissioned nursery provision.

She stated that universal services were not a 24/7 service and acknowledged the concerns at the loss of some groups. She added that groups would be encouraged to use the centres as much as possible.

She said that the proposal to establish a staff mutual through a ‘Right to Provide’ request was currently being considered.

Councillor Sarah Bevan asked if she wished to make any points relating to enhanced integration.

Councillor Romero replied that the centre in Chew Valley planned to become more of a community hub alongside its substantive role.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked at what stage the ‘Right to Provide’ request was at currently.

Councillor Romero replied that it was still in its early stages and that any decision regarding it would follow the formal decision making process.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked whether the Panel would be consulted further on this matter and if the final decision on it would be made in public.

Councillor Romero replied that she would keep the Panel informed of the progress of ‘Right to Provide’ request and that she intended to make a public decision on the matter at the appropriate time. She added that recommendation 2.10 of the Cabinet report asks the Panel to ‘receive a report and review implementation of new models a year following implementation’.

Councillor Michael Evans asked if most of the planned savings would be made through not manning centres when in official use.

The Strategic Director for People and Communities replied that there would be a reduction in staff at the centres as the intention was to match the opening times to when groups would be using them.

Councillor Nicholas Coombes commented that he supported the proposal that some universal services may be delivered by putting in place appropriate charging arrangements.

The Strategic Director for People and Communities commented that the Council was never in the business of running a vast array of services, its role is to assure a quality of services and to fund targeted work.

Councillor Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst commented that she felt it was great news that nursery provision was to be provided at the centre in Weston. She asked if there was to be an increase in Health Visitors within the Council.

The Strategic Director for People and Communities replied that the commissioning of the Health Visitor Service was due to transfer to the Local Authority on October 1^st 2015 and that investment in expansion of the service was planned. He added that the Council was already talking to the NHS regarding the transfer.

David  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.