Decision details

Purpose of Report: The Toy Bus was agreed as a saving for the 14-15 budget round. Staffing issues/vacancies are compromising the capacity within Children’s Centres to deliver services. The possibility of the Toy Bus staff to fill vacancies rather than be made redundant has been identified. The upkeep and replacement of the resources and the running costs and maintenance of the Toy Bus with the need to address in –year savings has meant that officers have had to explore the cessation of the Bus earlier than anticipated. Discussions have taken place with colleagues who run the Mobile Library to see whether the toys could be used within the service to enrich story telling/play activities and resource a lending library service from that vehicle. A consultation took place with users of Children Centres including the Toy Bus members to seek views on the future of services currently provided through the Toy Bus. Two alternatives were offered – use of the resources on the Mobile Library or the toys to be used to support parenting and play with the more vulnerable children in York including Children’s Centres. Two thirds of respondents favoured the first.

The Cabinet Member will be asked to approve the recommendation to cease the Toy Bus, re-site the toys in the library service and develop a toy lending / play service.

RESOLVED:       That Option 1 be approved i.e. explore option that toys be added to the Mobile Library which visits all areas of the city and is open to all families.

REASONS:         (i)      All families will be able to access the

service through the mobile library which will            also offer the services of an experienced

colleague (eg in story-telling) as well as opening up opportunities for families to access other services from the mobile library.

                             (ii)      Children’s Centres will gift the remaining

                                      Toy Bus toys to the Library Service.

                             (iii)     No further expenditure would be required

                                      on a new vehicle.

(iv)    Toy Bus staff could be redeployed to existing vacancies in the Children’s Centres to improve capacity there and support the process of reaching vulnerable families.

(v)     This option is supported by the consultation process and allows the service to make the necessary budget savings in this financial year.