Decision details

Purpose of report: Informs Member of changes in the resources coming into- the city via Children's Fund. It summaries the change in the criteria for the funding stream and the implications in terms of commissioning and on-going funded work stemming from those changes.

Members are asked to: Approve the setting up of a multi-agency commissioning process which will initially give oversight of the Children's Early Intervention and be a framework through which other funding streams can be commissioned.

Approve the re-commissioning of work previously funded by Children's Fund for a period of 6 months.

Advice of the advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Adopt Option A, as set out below

-        Development of a coherent multi-agency commissioning process be developed for and piloted by Children’s Fund which can be utilised for wider commissioning.

-        Transitional arrangements put in place for a 6 month period to ensure that the legacy of the Children’s Fund can be preserved and then built upon and developed.

-        To reinforce the fact that these are transitional arrangements a slight change in name from Children’s Fund to Children’s Early Intervention Fund be introduced. Cost of transition arrangements would be a maximum of £177k for the 6 months with an additional funding for Nurture groups over the year of £25,000.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  This option will ensure an effective commissioning process for Children’s Fund monies. It will utilise this process to develop a wider more coherent commissioning process. It will ensure that the legacy of the Children’s Fund can be built upon. It will facilitate the development of services under the new funding arrangement.