Agenda for Children & Young People Cabinet Member Meeting on Monday, 4th January, 2010, 4.00pm
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Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 208 KBVenue: Committee Room 3, Hove Town Hall. View directions
Contact: Nara Miranda, Democratic Services Officer
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Procedural Business
(b) Exclusion of Press and Public - To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration.
NOTE: Any item appearing in Part 2 of the Agenda states in its heading either that it is confidential or the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public.
A list and description of the categories of exempt information is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls.
Minutes: 27a Declarations of Interest
27.1 There were none.
27b Exclusion of Press and Public
27.2 In accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (‘the Act’), the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during an item of business on the grounds that it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press or public were present during that item, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information (as defined in section 100A(3) of the Act) or exempt information (as defined in section 100I(1) of the Act).
27.3 RESOLVED – That the press and the public be not excluded from the meeting. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting Minutes of the Meeting held on 5 October 2009 (copy attached). Minutes: 28.1 RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 October 2009 be approved and signed by the Cabinet Member as a correct record. |
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Cabinet Member's Communications Minutes: 29.1 The Cabinet Member indicated that she was pleased to report that Brighton & Hove Children’s Services had received Grade 3 from the Ofsted inspection, which indicated that the services were performing well. She congratulated and thanked all the staff for their work.
29.2 The Opposition Spokesperson, Labour Group, added her support and praise to the relevant team. |
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Items reserved for discussion (a) Items reserved by the Cabinet Member
(b) Items reserved by the Opposition Spokesperson
(c) Items reserved by Members, with the agreement of the Cabinet Member.
NOTE: Petitions, Public Questions, Deputations, Letters from Councillors, Written Questions from Councillors and Notices of Motion will be reserved automatically.
Minutes: 30.1 RESOLVED – All items were reserved for discussion by the Cabinet Member. |
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Petitions No petitions received by date of publication.
Minutes: 31.1 No petitions had been received. |
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Public Questions (The closing date for receipt of public questions is12 noon on 23 December 2009)
No public questions received by date of publication. Minutes: 32.1 No public questions had been received. |
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Deputations (The closing date for receipt of deputations is 12 noon on 23 December 2009)
No deputations received by date of publication. Minutes: 33.1 No deputations had been received. |
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Letters from Councillors (i) Future of Youth Provision in Whitehawk – Letter from Councillor Morgan (copy attached)
Additional documents: Minutes: 34 (i) The Future of Youth Provision in Whitehawk
34.1 A letter was received from Councillor Morgan regarding the future of youth provision in Whitehawk. Councillor Morgan reiterated that he would like reassurance that the existing youth services would continue to be supported during the process of the Whitehawk Hub relocation project and the progress reported accordingly.
34.2 The Cabinet Member thanked Councillor Morgan for attending the meeting to present his letter and gave the following response:
“During the public consultation process for the Whitehawk Hub, at the public meetings, it was made clear that the flexible space within the main building of Whitehawk Hub would be used as flexibly as possible for the benefit of the community. We anticipate that all of the present community users of the Whitehawk Youth Centre which are booked through the CYPT, will be accommodated within the new Whitehawk Hub.
The Whitehawk Youth Centre space has also been used by a range of people on a less frequent basis, and these casual users, it is also anticipated would be able to be accommodated within the new flexible space of the Whitehawk Hub.
SafetyNet also have a number of community groups that use this space and senior officers within the CYPT have already met with SafetyNet re. alternative accommodation for themselves and for the present user groups. We have had offers of alternative space in the community and we are presently exploring these options. SafetyNet and the other users will be fully kept abreast of developments.
As you know, the vast majority of activity carried out by the CYPT Youth Team in Whitehawk is targeted services for young people in the Whitehawk estate. We don’t run a general open access youth service. At present the Youth and Connexions Team run 3 youth service groups from the present centre, all of which we would hope to expand in the new accommodation.
With regards to your statement that the Crew Club was ‘apparently’ refused funding on the basis of the CYPT Whitehawk youth provision. My understanding is that this was not the reason for the council’s refusal for funding for the Crew Club from the Council’s Strategic Grant fund.
Officers within the CYPT are presently engaged in scoping out the development of an integrated youth commissioning strategy for the city, and this will be brought to a future CYPT Board. The strategy will outline the council’s commitment to youth services across the city.”
34.3 The Opposition Spokesperson, Labour Group, considered that a review of the provision of youth services was necessary not only in the Whitehawk area, but across the city. She noted that there were still some anomalies in places and indicated that she would, therefore, welcome a fresh review for the city in relation to these services.
34.4 The Cabinet Member reassured her that officers would take her comments on board and would look into this matter further.
34.5 The Opposition Spokesperson, Green Group, referred to the S106 funding and enquired whether officers planned to direct some of that grant towards this kind of youth provision. The Head of Capital Strategy and Development indicated that officers would be considering it if and when that funding was available.
34.6 RESOLVED: That the letter and the response provided be noted.
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Written Questions from Councillors No written questions have been received. Minutes: 35.1 No written questions from Councillors had been received. |
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Notices of Motions No Notices of Motion have been referred.
Minutes: 36.1 No Notices of Motion had been received. |
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Proposed Expansion of Primary Schools
Report of the Director of Children’s Services (copy attached). Additional documents: Decision: 1. That it be agreed that the CYPT move to the initial consultation process regarding the proposal to permanently expand Goldstone and Westdene Primary Schools by one form of entry and Queens Park Primary by half a form of entry with effect from September 2011.
Minutes: 37.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services concerning the proposed expansions of Goldstone, Westdene and Queens Park Primary schools. The report set out the consultation that had been undertaken with the schools and their governing bodies following the Cabinet Member meeting held on 5 October 2009, and sought approval to undertake the next steps in the process (for copy see minute book).
37.2 The Cabinet Member clarified that the recommendation initially published in paragraph 2.1 of the report should be amended to indicate that the consultation process in relation to Queens Park Primary School would be to permanently expand the school by half form of entry and not by one form of entry as recommended in the published report.
Officers also provided copies of the consultation document with the current and projected school numbers completed in relation to Goldstone, Westdene and Queen’s Park Primary Schools (see appendix 1 to the minutes).
37.3 The Schools Futures Project Director referred to the £5.7 million grant the city had received and noted that this funding had considerably helped with moving these proposals forward. The Project Director further advised that consultation would also be carried out with the relevant ward councillors.
37.4 The Opposition Spokesperson, Labour Group, commended the officers for the work undertaken in relation to this matter. She noted that, in face of the current situation where schools places in the Hove area were concerned, these proposals were not the whole solution; she considered, however, that they were a robust first step forward.
37.5 RESOLVED – That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report and following the clarification given in paragraph 37.2 above, the recommendation be amended as follows:
(1) That it be agreed that the CYPT move to the initial consultation process regarding the proposal to permanently expand Goldstone and Westdene Primary Schools by one form of entry and Queens Park Primary by half a form of entry with effect from September 2011.
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Capital Resources & Capital Investment Programme 2010/2011
Report of the Director of Children’s Services (copy attached). Additional documents: Decision: 1. That the level of available capital resources totalling £30.558m for investment relating to education buildings financed from supported borrowing, capital grant, revenue contributions and capital receipts be noted. Minutes: 38.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services concerning the Capital Resources and Capital Investment Programme 2010/2011, which informed the Cabinet Member of the level of available capital resources allocated to the CYPT for 2010/11 (for copy see minute book).
38.2 The Opposition Spokesperson, Green Group, sought clarification on the following points:
§ whether the Capital Grant listed under the Capital Finance settlement in paragraph 3.5 of the report included the £5.7m allocated to the city under the Basic Need Safety Valve § whether the council was confident that it could bear the borrowing cost referred to in paragraph 3.7 of the report § the provision of caretakers flats at the Swan Centre referred to in appendix 1 to the report.
38.3 It was explained that the Capital Grant referred to above includes the £5.7m funding, which had been allocated to deal solely with the need of additional primary school places in the city.
38.4 The Head of Capital Strategy and Development referred to the concern raised in relation to the borrowing and indicated that the view was that the council would be able to bear the cost of it. She advised that Cabinet would be considering this matter at a future meeting with the full recommendations of the CYPT Capital Investment Programme for 2010/11.
38.5 RESOLVED – That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendation:
(1) That the level of available capital resources totalling £30.558m for investment relating to education buildings financed from supported borrowing, capital grant, revenue contributions and capital receipts be noted. |
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Early Years Single Funding Formula from April 2010
Report of the Director of Children’s Services (copy attached). Additional documents: Decision: That, subject to approval by the Early Years Funding Group and the Schools Forum, the Cabinet Member agreed that Brighton and Hove becomes a pathfinder and implements a Single Early Years Funding Formula based on the following factors:
(i) Three basic hourly rates: private, voluntary and local authority (PVI) group childcare providers; childminders; maintained and independent school nursery classes and schools (includes a quality supplement).
(ii) A deprivation supplement for children who live in worst 20% Super Output Areas amounting to 5% of the total budget.
(iii) Quality supplements based on four levels of quality based on achievement of quality assurance programmes and staff qualifications. The formula allows PVI providers to be paid at the same rate as maintained nursery classes if they employ an Early Years Professional.
(iv) Not to include a supplement for flexibility (to be reviewed for 2011/12).
(v) Additional funding for children with significant special needs in maintained schools – this is already in place for PVI providers.
(vi)
Additional sustainability funding for maintained nursery schools
and small group providers with less than 24 places.
(vii)
To base funding on termly counts of
participation and adjust funding for children who leave or join
after the head count day. (viii) Transitional protection – to reduce any losses for PVI providers and nursery schools by 50% after inflation. Maintained schools with nursery classes will be protected by the Minimum Funding Guarantee.
Minutes: 39.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services concerning the Early Years Single Funding Formula from April 2010. The report sought the Cabinet Member’s agreement for Brighton & Hove to apply to become a pathfinder to pilot the Single Formula from April 2010 ahead of the national implementation in April 2011 (for copy see minute book).
39.2 The Cabinet Member agreed that Brighton & Hove should continue with the initial timescale for implementation from April 2010, given the amount of work and consultation already done to prepare for implementation.
39.3 The Opposition Spokesperson, Labour Group, commended the team of officers involved with this work and praised the team for their professionalism and the quality of care the city offered. She indicated that she was also pleased with the special education needs provision referred to in the report.
39.4 The Opposition Spokesperson, Green Group, sought clarification about the different rates of funding.
39.5 The Head of Service, City Early Years and Childcare, noted that the base rate was set out per hour and was based per child’s place and not per member of staff. She explained that there was also a supplement for deprivation which many nursery classes in schools would benefit from.
39.6 The Head of Service also explained that nursery schools would have a small decrease in funding but that their cost per pupil was still significantly more than other providers. She noted, however, that whilst nurseries provide good quality of provision with highly qualified staff, this was also the case for maintained school nurseries and Children’s Centres. The Single Formula was designed to ensure a more equitable distribution of funding across all providers.
39.7 RESOLVED – That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendation:
(1) That, subject to approval by the Early Years Funding Group and the Schools Forum, it be agreed that Brighton and Hove becomes a pathfinder and implements a Single Early Years Funding Formula based on the following factors:
(i) Three basic hourly rates: private, voluntary and local authority (PVI) group childcare providers; childminders; maintained and independent school nursery classes and schools (includes a quality supplement).
(ii) A deprivation supplement for children who live in worst 20% Super Output Areas amounting to 5% of the total budget.
(iii) Quality supplements based on four levels of quality based on achievement of quality assurance programmes and staff qualifications. The formula allows PVI providers to be paid at the same rate as maintained nursery classes if they employ an Early Years Professional.
(iv) Not to include a supplement for flexibility (to be reviewed for 2011/12).
(v) Additional funding for children with significant special needs in maintained schools – this is already in place for PVI providers.
(vi)
Additional sustainability funding for maintained nursery schools
and small group providers with less than 24 places.
(vii)
To base funding on termly counts of
participation and adjust funding for children who leave or join
after the head count day. (viii) Transitional protection – to reduce any losses for PVI providers and nursery schools by 50% after inflation. Maintained schools with nursery classes will be protected by the Minimum Funding Guarantee.
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Sure Start Capital and Fairlight Children's Centre Report of the Director of Children’s Services (copy attached). Decision: 1. That the creation of a new Children’s Centre venue at Fairlight School be agreed at a cost of £100,000, by converting an existing classroom and creating a separate entrance to be funded from the reduction in funding for Shenfield Way from £200,000 to £100,000 – Surestart Capital Programme to be amended accordingly.
2. That the change of the status of the Saltdean and Goldstone Children’s Centres be agreed so that they are not designated centres that will be inspected by Ofsted. They will continue to be known locally as Children’s Centres and offer services in the same way as Bevendean and Coldean Children’s Centres.
3. That some changes in the Sure Start capital programme be agreed, which include reducing the funding for Shenfield Way from £200,00 to £100,000 and increasing the funding for Hollingbury Park (from £500,000 to £600,000) from the unallocated balance of Quality and Access Sure Start grant – Sure Start Capital Programme to be amended accordingly.
Minutes: 40.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services concerning the Sure Start capital and Fairlight Children’s Centre, which proposed a new Children’s Centre venue to be based in Fairlight Primary School and recommended the change to the status of the Saltdean and Goldstone Children’s Centre (for copy see minute book).
40.2 The Head of Services, City Early Years and Childcare, briefly referred to the Saltdean and Goldstone Children’s Centres. She explained that the suggestion to their change of status came about because both were relatively small areas. It was considered that it would be more effective to link them to a nearby Children’s Centre to create a larger catchment area. She noted that this change would be mainly administrative.
40.3 The Head of Service also referred to the identified gap in the Lewes Road area and hence the proposal to create a Children’s Centre at Fairlight Primary School. She indicated that the cost of refurbishment for the offices in Shenfield Way would be lower, which had helped to release funding to support the creation of a centre at Fairlight.
40.4 The Opposition Spokesperson, Labour Group, indicated that she was pleased that the council had taken professional advice on this matter and congratulated the team of officers for the work undertaken in relation to these proposals.
40.4 RESOLVED – That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:
(1) That the creation of a new Children’s Centre venue at Fairlight School be agreed at a cost of £100,000, by converting an existing classroom and creating a separate entrance to be funded from the reduction in funding for Shenfield Way from £200,000 to £100,000 – Surestart Capital Programme to be amended accordingly.
(2) That the change of the status of the Saltdean and Goldstone Children’s Centres be agreed so that they are not designated centres that will be inspected by Ofsted. They will continue to be known locally as Children’s Centres and offer services in the same way as Bevendean and Coldean Children’s Centres.
(3) That some changes in the Sure Start capital programme be agreed, which include reducing the funding for Shenfield Way from £200,00 to £100,000 and increasing the funding for Hollingbury Park (from £500,000 to £600,000) from the unallocated balance of Quality and Access Sure Start grant – Sure Start Capital Programme to be amended accordingly. |