3.1         Securing the future of Early Years services

·                    The reasons for the Call-in and the concerns over due process, insufficient alternative options considered and a focus on budgetary issues.

·                    Due process:

·         The Call-in members had stated that Mary Sambrook had stopped taking children prior to the decision and consultation process, accordingly the numbers presented to the Schools Forum and used throughout the consultation were in their view not accurate

·         Unison claimed that senior staff apparently put pressure on children centre staff to encourage parents to complete the survey in favour of closure of the LADNs. The Call-in members noted that on the principles of democracy, accountability and integrity, the consultation should be investigated.

·                    Service for the end-user:

·         The call-in had expressed concern that there was insufficient provision, particularly for SEN children, and consider Overland to effectively a unit for those children livening with a hearing condition. Concerns were raised that the closure of the LADN will mean residents loosing provision for under two year olds. Overland and John Smith are linked to children’s centres and provide specialised affordable quality day nurseries with wrap around care.

·         The Decision does not factor in the work needed to make up other services to the standard that Overland already is at.

·                    Alternative options:

·         Alternative options should have been considered, such as investment and reconsidering charging, opening up the waiting lists, using spaces in better ways and looking at the voluntary sector. LADN staff have ideas and should have been engaged in the process.

·                    Following the presentation by the Call-In members, the Committee queried the following issues:

·         Noted that the charge of £4.80 was very low and had not been reviewed for over ten years. The Committee noted comments that the Council could consider alternatives rather than charge families with the full cost of £40 to be viable.

·         The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3

The Decision made by the Mayor in Cabinet on Wednesday, 27 June 2018 in respect of agenda item 6.3 ‘securing the future of early years services – local authority day nurseries’ was “called in” under the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Procedure Rules of the Council’s Constitution.

The ‘call-in’ was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 11^th July, 2018.  The Committee agreed to refer the matter back to the Mayor for further consideration and proposed an alternative course of action.

The Mayor has subsequently given further consideration to this matter in the light of the comments and recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as set out in the attached document.

1.    Noted that the Mayor in Cabinet had decided that the Council consult on the proposal of a phased closure of the Local Authority Day Nurseries and that the feedback of the consultation be brought back to the Mayor for further consideration. The consultation proposal set out that Mary Sambrook Local Authority Day Nursery would close at the end of July 2018, followed by John Smith Local Authority Day Nursery and Overland in the first half of 2019;

2.    Was advised that the Cabinet Report had been published on Friday, 22^nd June, 2018 before the Mayor in Cabinet made his decision on Wednesday, 27^th June, 2018. Accordingly, Call-in Members raised concerns that Councillors had insufficient time to (i) consider the report in full, (ii) carry out appropriate due diligence on a key decision and (iii) explore alternative options available;

3.    Noted that the Call-in Members also raised concerns that the proposed consultation does not constitute full and meaningful consultation with residents e.g. the proposed consultation of twenty eight days combined with the start of the phased closure of the Local Authority Day Nurseries at the end of July, provided a very short period of time in which to explore options, consult with parents and staff and consider feedback fully;

4.    Noted that the Call-in Members had also highlighted that the consultation only proposed the options to close the Local Authority Day Nurseries or to maintain the status quo and had suggested that further options should be consulted on;

5.    Was advised the Call-in Members therefore proposed that a working group of Executive and Non-executive Councillors should be set up and provided with sufficient information to explore more options to consult on, particularly around the financial viability of the Local Authority Day Nurseries. It was suggested that the working group work with unions, parents and obtain information from other Local Authorities could look at the funding gap and draw up alternative options. The Call-in Members then proposed consulting in September;

6.    Also noted tabled information on a public consultation by Salford City Council on proposals to find a more cost effective way to deliver local authority nurseries. The Committee noted that the Salford City Council consultation proposed a 90 day consultation with parents, staff, schools and the private and voluntary sector.

The Committee then received and noted the response from the Lead  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2

DECISION

1. To note the proposal to undertake a phased closure of the council’s three childcare day nurseries.

2. To agree that consultation take place in respect of the said proposal(s) and that the feedback of the said consultation to be brought back to the mayor for consideration.

3.    To note what further actions will be undertaken to improve the availability of affordable and accessible childcare.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S SERVICES (D. JONES)

(Divisional Director, Education and Partnerships (C. McInnes)

The Mayor agreed the reasons for urgency as set out in the report, namely that:

“This report was published late as it was necessary to undertake further legal due diligence around the proposals. The report needs to be considered at this meeting due to the need to launch the consultation process on Thursday 28 June.”

Councillor Danny Hassell, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People, introduced the report. He highlighted the financial pressures on the Council and the need to ensure effective services were provided in an efficient and fair way. The imminent cut in funding for the current arrangements meant that a decision was required as soon as possible.

The Mayor then received a number of submissions to the meeting from parents, unions, Councillors and Head Teachers. A number of points were raised, including that:

·         Concerns that places in these nurseries were more costly than other options and that these services could be provided more effectively elsewhere.

·         There were large funding pressures on education as a whole.

·         Falling numbers of children meant that there were vacancies at other nurseries.

·         Why were the nurseries more expensive than other options and was that, for example, because they had been deliberately ‘run down’ or otherwise not supported to make the most of what they could offer.

·         The need to ensure staff were properly consulted on any proposed changes.

·         The difficulty in recruiting staff on fixed term contracts due to the uncertain future for the nurseries.

The Mayor thanked everyone for their contributions. He noted the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and that officers would be providing responses to them. He noted that the report was asking for a consultation to take place in respect of the proposal to undertake a phased closure of the nurseries. He agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1. To note the proposal to undertake a phased closure of the council’s three childcare day nurseries.

2. To agree that consultation take place in respect of the said proposal(s) and that the feedback of the said consultation to be brought back to the mayor for consideration.

3.    To note what further actions will be undertaken to improve the availability of affordable and accessible childcare.