Issue - items at meetings - Consultation on charging for some Children's Centre services

Report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services (copy attached).

RESOLVED – That the Committee agree to a consultation on charging for drop-in, open access Children’s Centre services for parents.

10.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services in relation to Consultation on Charging for Some Children’s Centre Services. The agreed budget for 2014/15 included a commitment to consult on proposals for charging for some Children’s Centre services. The aim was to use the income from charging to continue to provide services that would otherwise have to be reduced. The budget proposal was to raise £20k and to ensure sufficient time for detailed consultation the changes were proposed to be introduced from January 2015.

10.2      In response to Councillor Wealls it was explained that the costs of the transaction would be in the region of £2k each year, but the charges would be different based on how people paid – ‘multi-buys’ would be encouraged to help reduce the charges for service users.

10.3      In response to Councillor Brown it was confirmed that monitoring would take place when the changes were implemented to assess to impact of the uptake of the services.

10.4      Councillors Robins asked about families in receipt of benefits and it was explained that, and it was clarified they would still be eligible for these services free of charge.

10.5      The Chair noted that the consultation process would look at the specifics of charging schemes.

10.6      The Chair then put the recommendation to the vote.

10.7      RESOLVED – That the Committee agree to a consultation on charging for drop-in, open access Children’s Centre services for parents.