Agenda item

Transformation of Early Help Services - Outcome of the Consultation and Business Case

Minutes:

Background:

 

The Cabinet accepted this report as urgent to enable consideration of the outcome of consultation, the comments of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the business case prior to making a final decision on the way forward at the earliest possible time in the light of the budget agreed by Full Council on 23 February 2017.

 

This report provided details of the outcome of the Transformation of Early Help Services’ public consultation carried out between 31 May and 12 July 2017.  It also provided an overview of the business case, which analysed all the counter proposals together with the comments of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

The report stated that the consultation captured a broad range of views and included ten public consultation meetings, five meetings with professional representatives from education and health, a direct e-mail address for comments, 19 meetings at existing centres with staff and users and an online and paper based survey. The consultation process was summarised in paragraph 3 of the report and the outcome of consultation was set out in Appendix 2 to the report. In addition, a petition was submitted to Full Council, details of which were set out in paragraph 3.10 of the report. The Lead Petitioner addressed the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, in accordance with the Petition Scheme, details of which were set out in paragraph 6 of the report.

 

The Business Case examined each option (A-G) and recommended that Option G (Children and Family Hub and Children and Family Wellbeing Centres)be implemented, as detailed in section 5 of the report.

 

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposals, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services asked for his thanks to the officers who had organised the consultation exercise and analysis of outcomes to be placed on record.

 

Decision number:

Decision:

The Cabinet noted the outcome of the consultation, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

 

The Cabinet noted the comments of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as set out in section 6 of the report.

79/2017

The Cabinet approved the option to establish four integrated Family and Children Hubs (Designated Children’s Centres) and nine Children and Family Wellbeing Centres as set out in the Business Case (Appendix 1 to the report).

80/2017

The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Children and Adults Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services (Lead Member), to decide the final location of the Children and Family Hubs and Children and Family Wellbeing Centres within the agreed capital budget.

 

Reasons:

 

The agreed option will allow Medway Council to continue to deliver flexible and effective Early Help services within a significantly diminished revenue budget.  Creation of four new Family Hubs will allow the extension of services to a wider range of families.  The proposed model delivers the most effective and far-reaching service within the reduced budget envelope.

Supporting documents: