Local democracy

Agenda item

CONSULTATION ON THE PREVENTION AND EARLY HELP ESTATES STRATEGY PROPOSAL

Previous Reference: Executive, Minute 84 (2018/19)

 

Document “AC” presents proposals for consultation on the use of buildings within the Prevention and Early Help Service.

 

This follows on from the creation of a new 0-19 years Prevention and Early Help Service that was informed by a previous public consultation and decision of the Executive that the use of buildings be reviewed to look for ways in which the two year additional funding for staffing could be sustained through different use of buildings assets.

 

Each Area Committee has been presented with a report from the meeting of the Executive held on 5 February 2019 for their comment. The consultation period runs until 7 May 2019, following which a report will be presented to the Executive in July 2019.

 

The Committee is asked to note the details of Document “AC” and make comment. 

 

(Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

 

(Jenny Cryer – 01274 432438)

Minutes:

Document “AC” presented proposals for consultation on the use of buildings within the Prevention and Early Help Service.

 

This followed on from the creation of a new 0-19 years Prevention and Early Help Service that had been informed by a previous public consultation and decision of the Executive that the use of buildings be reviewed to look for ways in which the two year additional funding for staffing could be sustained through different use of buildings assets.

 

Each Area Committee had been presented with a report from the meeting of the Executive held on 5 February 2019 for their comment. The consultation period would run until 7 May 2019, following which a report would be presented to the Executive in July 2019.

 

It was stressed that the views of this Committee would be welcomed and that the physical requirements of the Service had changed from premises suitable for use by the 0-5 age group to a much more demanding requirement for premises for families in crisis. The main hub in Bradford East was envisaged to be housed at Barkerend as there was space for both public use and office use in one premises.

 

A representative of UNITE attended the meeting and spoke on behalf of the Trade Union, expressing his concerns about the need to protect services to some of the most disadvantaged people in the District. He considered that the proposals meant that some communities would have no access to Council run services and advised that no meaningful consultation had yet taken place with the trade unions.

 

A member noted that he had attended one of the consultation sessions and had been the only local parent present. He expressed real concerns about the consultation so far and urged officers to hold additional sessions and to provide consultation materials in public places. He also had concerns about the consequences of the proposals meaning that any remaining centres would have to serve extremely large areas and suggested that investigation be made of other Council premises within the Constituency that it may be possible to link up with to ensure better overall use.

 

A member noted that there seemed to be no mention of Bolton and Undercliffe in the report and was advised that this may be because there were no Council owned premises in that area. However, if there was no service provision, that would form part of the consultations.

 

Members were concerned that the low level of participation and feedback was representative of a degree of cynicism or mistrust among the public about this type of exercise or were the result of the lack of detail about future provision. In response it was noted that there had been a good level of participation by other organisations and that different ways of engaging with the public would be considered.

 

A member asked for a financial breakdown of the projected savings and was advised that, providing it did not breach commercial confidentiality rules, it could be shared with members. The member responded by stressing that he could explain the proposals to his community better if he knew the costs involved. He did not want to discover in future that services were proposed for reduction on the grounds of not being well used as a result of decisions made now about locations.

 

In response to further questions, it was confirmed that each community served by an area committee had had one public consultation. Members stated strongly that this was not enough.

 

It was also confirmed that feedback would not be requested until the end of the exercise and that there were no staffing implications. It was also confirmed that officers would be happy to consult with the Trade Unions, even though not required to do so as there were no staffing implications.

 

Members urged officers to redouble their efforts to consult directly with the public during the remainder of the time left to the consultation exercise and advised that on-line consultation alone was not appropriate as it did excluded people without internet access.

  

Resolved –

 

(1)  That the details of Document “AC” be noted.

 

(2)  That this Committee recommends more geographically diverse events throughout the Bradford East Constituency in line with the Local Authority’s duty to consult. That consultation to be held in venues throughout the Constituency and especially the Family Hub and delivery sites.

 

(3)  That consultation materials be made more widely available in local venues.

 

Action: Interim Strategic Director, Children’s Services

 

(Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

 

 

Supporting documents: