Decision details

Purpose of Report: This paper is a response to the decisions made at an Executive Meeting on 17 March 2016. Members were asked to agree the following:
a. endorse the implementation of new place-based prevention and early intervention services within Local Area Teams
b. agree to a public consultation and further paper on the delivery of the children's centres as part of the new operating model
c. agree to receive a further paper addressing finalised proposals on revising the city wide and city centre youth offer as part of the new operating model

The report will outline the public response to the Children's Centre consultation and identify proposals for both the delivery of services at an early years level, as well as intended plans for the delivery of services from current children's services locations. It will outline preferred options for this and how this will then be implemented as part of the Local Area Teams approach which was endorsed at the March meeting.
The city wide youth offer will be identified to the Executive with specific detail around how the city centre offer will look.

The paper agreed by Executive in March set out the following as key features of the new offer:
- identifying the best delivery vehicle for the counselling service
- early identification, tracking and response to older young people within the Local Area Team model, for proactive engagement within their communities
- a potential shared approach to city centre drop-in access

Members will be asked to:
- approve proposals to review the delivery of children's centre services in line with the Local Area Team approach.
- endorse the plans for the city wide youth offer and redesign of the city centre youth offer within this.

Resolved:  (i)      That the following be agreed regarding children’s

                             centre services:

a.   All nine sites to be re-named and re-launched as a range of children and family centres that enable more flexible and responsive provision which aligns with local community activity and use.

b.   Three children and family centre resources to be maintained as designated “children’s centres” with the statutory responsibility for ensuring the delivery of integrated early childhood services across the city.  These centres will be the main bases for the Local Area Teams.

(ii)      That the following be agreed regarding the

          approach to the city Youth Order:

a.   A revised offer including information and advice services being drawn from the Local Area Teams to deliver city centre services alongside Adult Services and Community and Voluntary Sector partners, as outlined in paragraphs 54 and 61 of the report.

b.   To relocate the city centre offer from 29 Castlegate to Sycamore House to achieve this.

c.   To release 29 Castlegate for disposal as a surplus asset and to bring back a further report setting out the required funding for any works to Sycamore House and any other re-designated sites; this will in principle be funded from the capital receipt from Castlegate.

d.   Begin a process of engagement and commissioning of community partners to deliver the youth counselling offer.

Reason:     This will finalise the plans for the Local Area Teams,

allow the council to take forward agreed work to remodel early help arrangements and achieve the associated savings targets.