Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Social Care

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Social Care and Health in relation to the development of the Family Well-being Service. In March 2017 the Council had approved the proposed development of locality working and the report provided the Committee with the opportunity to comment on the proposals to develop Family Wellbeing Centres.

The report set out the following:-

·         the background to the matter;

·         the context for Children’s Centres;

·         the context for Family Centres;

·         the proposals for the re-modeling and development of a Family Wellbeing Service;

·         the current funding model for Children’s Centres and Family Centres;

·         the proposed funding formula to support the new operating model for the Family Wellbeing Service;

·         Legal considerations and the Childcare Act 2006; and

·         Details of consultations and engagement on the proposed changes to the delivery of Family Centres and Children’s Centres.

A full Equality Impact Assessment would be carried out and property considerations would be assessed.

The Committee was requested to note the intention to fully engage on the proposals and to comment on the following:-

·         The principles of the Family Wellbeing Service; and

·         The approach being taken towards the development of a funding formula.

Members of the Committee raised the following observations:

·         The requirement to have a proportionally based funding regime.

·         The requirement to break down barriers and manage the change sympathetically in relation to service users using a new building to access services.

·         Parking facilities and access in and around the proposed centres needs to be considered including the higher volume of service users accessing the centre.

·         Regular analytical studies to ensure that resources meet the need as a consequence of new housing developments.

·         The reporting mechanism includes the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children’s Services and Safeguarding) in relation to updates and progress.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the draft strategic vision and principles for the development of Family and Wellbeing Centres be noted;

(2)       the proposal to implement a new funding formula be noted;

(3)       the fact that public engagement and consultation is planned to commence the week beginning 25 September 2017 be noted; and

(4)       the Director of Social Care and Health be requested to provide a progress report to the next meeting of the Committee, scheduled to take place on 14 November 2016.