Issue - meetings

Report of commissioning of Early Intervention Fund and Better Play Grants

Meeting: 19/01/2009 - Executive Member for Children and Young People's Services and Advisory Panel (Item 50)

50 Report on the Commissioning of Services through the Children's Early Intervention Fund and Better Play Grants PDF 67 KB

This report sets out the commissioning process for the Children’s Early Intervention Fund (EIF), which has on this occasion been linked to the Better Play Grants (BPG), and the funding recommendations of the panel set up to consider applications for the joint EIF/BPG fund.

Additional documents:

Annex A, item 50 PDF 40 KB
Annex B, item 50 PDF 21 KB
Confidential Annex C , View reasons restricted (50/4)
Public Version Annex C, item 50 PDF 45 KB

Decision:

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i) That the recommendations for commissioning projects through the Children’s Early Intervention Fund and Better Play grants, described as Option A in the report and set out at Annex B, be accepted.

(ii) That the comments made regarding the value of the Playspace organisation be noted.

(iii) That officers be requested to work with York Playspace in consultation with the Executive Member, the Shadow Executive Member and the Chair to examine how services could be sustained with the funds allocated and to explore what additional funds could be accessed.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON: To deliver a programme of preventative and early intervention work which will more fully meet the emerging needs of children and young people in the city from now until 2011.

Minutes:

Members received a report setting out the commissioning process for the Children’s Early Intervention Fund (EIF) which had, on this occasion, been linked to the Better Play Grants (BPG). The report also detailed the funding recommendations of the multi-agency panel set up to consider applications for the joint EIF/BPG fund.

Consideration was given to the following options:

To approve the funding recommendations of the EIF/BPG group contained at Annex B in the report, rejecting those outlined at Annex C.
To not approve the list at Annex B of the report and to consider other outcomes, such as continuing to fund all existing projects at their current level.

Concerns were expressed regarding the proposed cuts in funding to Playspace. Views were put forward that the loss of the funding may jeopardise the future of this valued organisation and the excellent work that they were carrying out in the community. Officers stated that it had been the panel’s view that the application in respect of Strategic Play Development did not provide sufficient evidence of ability to promote change in the sector and that funding would be better allocated to provision rather than indirectly on infrastructure. The Panel did, however, wish to continue commissioning Chill Out Zones at Moor Lane/Tang Hall. It was not recommended that funding be allocated for the Chill Out Zones at the 68 Centre in Heworth as there were similar types of provision in the area. Dialogue was taking place with Playspace to look at ways forward, including the possibility of seeking alternative sources of funding.

Members commented that although provision was available at Bellfarm, there was a reluctance by young people to use facilities outside of their own community.

It was noted that Members were not challenging the process by which the recommendations had been drawn up but were concerned at the implications for Playspace.