Agenda item

A call-in request relating to the Cabinet decision of 13^th November 2013 concerning the re-structuring of the Early Years, Children's Centre and Early Help was received and validated on 21^st November 2013.

The Chairman introduced this item to the Panel. She informed them that a total of 21 Councillors had signed the Call-In notice and explained the procedure involved. She then asked the Lead Call-In Member, Councillor Liz Hardman to address the Panel.

Councillor Hardman reaffirmed the points stated within the Call-In notice:

·  The Cabinet has not answered the questions raised by the EYCY PDS Panel including which services will be provided under the proposed new model, who will run the various Children’s Centres and to whom these services will be available;

·  The Cabinet has not formulated any response either to the recommendations of the Early Years, Children and Youth PDS Panel or to the Minority Report

·  The Cabinet has provided no timetable for formulating such a response; and

·  The Cabinet has given no indication about whether it is prepared to reconsider its overall budget to identify alternative areas of saving, as recommended by both the EYCY PDS Panel and the Minority Report. 

She argued that the proposed 38 – 40% cuts for Children’s Services were disproportionate to other services of the Council. She also called for any cuts in services to be delayed until the budget of 2015.

She urged the Panel to uphold the Call-In.

Councillor Lisa Brett commented that the Cabinet had agreed to note and formulate a response to the Panel’s recommendations and the issues raised in the Minority Report.

Councillor Liz Hardman replied that they had given no timetable in which they intend to respond. She added that no clarification had been given on the model to which the centres would operate and what services would be available at the centres.

The Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children & Youth, Councillor Dine Romero addressed the Panel. She acknowledged that the points raised in both reports had not been answered yet and said that was because the models had not yet been fully designed. She added that a consultation process must be carried out and that tenders for services would need to be received. She said that she planned to respond within 2 months and offered to provide an update to the Panel at their meeting in January.

She stated that there was not a one size fits all solution and so time was required to put the correct services in place. She also confirmed that she had asked the other Cabinet Members to look at their budgets to see if they could ease the pressure on Children’s Services.

Councillor Colin Barrett commented that residents within Weston were already concerned that a decision had already been made of the future of the centre located there as a number of groups had been touting to use it.

Councillor Romero replied that no decision had been made.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked when any changes will occur.

Councillor Romero replied that implementation was likely in 2015.

Councillor Tim Warren addressed the Panel. He said that the Cabinet had failed to address the concerns raised especially those of services to be provided and the number of hubs. He said that he agreed with Councillor Hardman that the cuts were disproportionate and called for the Council to learn through the best practice of other authorities and the work of voluntary organisations.

He asked for the decision to be sent back to the Cabinet.

Councillor John Bull addressed the Panel. He said that he agreed with the comments made by Councillor Hardman. He stressed the need for consultation prior to any implementation.

Councillor Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst asked if he would have preferred a rather hurried response by the Cabinet or for models to designed and consultation to be planned.

Councillor Bull replied that he would have liked the Cabinet to have responded to the points raised at their last meeting.

Councillor Dine Romero commented that it would have been irresponsible to have already created the models and stressed the need to take time and do it right. She added that she was happy to work with officers and report back to the Panel in January.

She stated that the concerns raised by the Panel will be addressed in the next stages and inform the models that are adopted.

Councillor Liz Hardman commented that 80% of 0 – 4 year olds had accessed a service at one of the centres. She also felt that insufficient financial information had been available. She said that she was pleased to hear that other Cabinet Members had been approached regarding their budgets.

She then formally proposed that the Call-In be upheld and that the decision should be sent back to the Cabinet.

Councillor David Veale seconded the proposal.

The Chair commented that she expected the Cabinet to have a fuller discussion on the matter and at the very least expected the Panel to be updated with a report in January.

The Panel RESOLVED by a majority vote to uphold the Call-In for the reasons stated above and asked for the Cabinet decision to be reconsidered at its meeting on Wednesday December 4th 2013.