Decision details

Lead Member will be asked to review the intention for each of the 14 buildings de-designated as Children’s Centres by the Lead Member for Children and Families. 

36.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services, together with comments of Councillor Philip Daniel, the Local Member.

DECISIONS

36.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) declare the Ringmer Children’s Centre building surplus to the County Council’s operational requirements;

(2) delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to enter into discussions on operational and service management arrangement with one or more public sector lead partners;

(3) delegate final terms to the Chief Operating Officer acting with the Director of Children’s Services;

(4) subject to the above, seek de-designation of the Centre by written submission to the Department for Education; and

(5) delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer to secure best value terms for disposal or lease in accordance with s123 of the Local Government Act 1972. 

Reasons

36.3     The revised Early Help Strategy reduced the number of centres that the Service required to deliver the service going forward, as agreed by the Lead Member for Children and Families on 7 October 2019.  The proposal has the potential of securing the continuation of the service whilst removing an ongoing duty on the County Council.

36.4     The steps outlined at Minute 36.2 provide assurance of the continuation of services, and address the role of the Director of Children’s Services and the risk of clawback of funds originally provided under the Sure Start programme.