Issue - meetings

This report seeks the Executive Member's approval for proposals to provide children's centre services to all 9,400 children aged under five years and their parents/carers across the City, by revising the reach areas of the eight existing children's centres and establishing a ninth centre in the South Bank/ Knavesmire area, plus a range of outreach settings.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)           That the proposals made in the report for revising and extending the reach areas of the eight existing children’s centres, together with the establishment of a high quality ninth children’s centre in South Bank/Knavesmire area and satellite centres in two areas of the City, subject to them all meeting national standards, being consistent with the level of provision across the city and to a suitable site being identified, be endorsed.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:To ensure City of York Council makes timely and well-founded decisions about Phase 3 of the national Children’s Centre Programme.

Members received a report which sought approval for proposals to provide children's centre services to all 9,400 children aged under five years and their parents/carers across the City, by revising the reach areas of the eight existing children's centres and establishing a ninth centre in the South Bank/ Knavesmire area, plus a range of outreach settings.

Some Members expressed concern that the funding available may dictate what was provided for the ninth children’s centre and the satellite centres, and suggested that, when the detailed proposals were developed, it may be necessary to look at a Capital Resource Allocation Model (CRAM) bid to top up funds to ensure that these operated effectively.

Members queried whether there were adequate transport links from the outlying areas to the children’s centres and officers advised that outreach services would be provided at other venues to ensure services could be easily accessed.  Members also queried whether the children’s centres had Green Travel Plans and suggested that these needed to be developed to reflect the extended reach areas.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)           That the proposals made in the report for revising and extending the reach areas of the eight existing children’s centres, together with the establishment of a high quality ninth children’s centre in South Bank/Knavesmire area and satellite centres in two areas of the City, subject to them all meeting national standards, being consistent with the level of provision across the city and to a suitable site being identified, be endorsed.¹

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:To ensure City of York Council makes timely and well-founded decisions about Phase 3 of the national Children’s Centre Programme.