Agenda item

The Council had before it the recommendation of the Executive in respect of the proposal for Woking Borough Council to become the lead provider for Family Centres in Woking and develop the vital outreach support to families.  Councillor Kemp introduced the report, outlining the objectives that would be achieved by the proposals and advising that the changes would give the residents of Woking the best possible service through a targeted approach.

Councillor Hughes, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, introduced a report which set out a series of recommendations which had been drawn up following a review of the proposals by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  Councillor Kemp noted that some of the recommendations to emerge from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee were statements and that some would be undeliverable.  In view of this, Councillor Kemp undertook to work with the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee outside of the meeting on the points raised by the Committee.

RESOLVED

That  (i)    Woking Borough Council to be the lead provider for Woking Family Centres in a partnership arrangement with Surrey County Council; and

          (ii)   the recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as set out below be taken forward by the Portfolio Holder in consultation with the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

(i)      O&S review how the transition embeds later in the municipal year (assuming that the Council agrees to WBC managing the new service. This is apparently the first time the service will be provided in this way so no precedent to refer to;

(ii)      a review of the funding envelope is undertaken by WBC at a later date, and that a flexible approach is made to the provision of funds. A 43% cut in funding is reported by the Children’s Centres in this borough and it is uncertain whether the funding allocated will be sufficient;

(iii)     any impact on social isolation is considered due to the cut to the universal offer and the move to a more targeted approach;

(iv)    a self-entry point to the service be considered for those families with on-going needs;

(v)     there is some monitoring of the group for which there is no formal provision (tier 1); concern expressed that the preventative element of the existing universal offer will be lost and that there could be an increase in late referrals and interventions. Also additional pressure on stretched school and other services could be felt;

(vi)     there is robust liaison with the voluntary and faith sectors who may be asked to fill this early gap. Also a monitoring of issues presented at schools where children are not in the Family service, but would previously have been accessing the universal offer;

(vii)    support and training be provided to the voluntary and faith sectors to assist in the identification of needy families with referral routes into the targeted services; and

(viii)   matching of the areas of need to local provision we understand is feasible. It will be interesting to see how this will work in practice. Concern had been raised about the specific closure of local centres. The flexibility discussed in the meeting was positive, where areas of specific need could be provided within localities where a centre is not permanently provided.