Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests made.

(a)  To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January, 2017

(b)   Matters Arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 17^th January 2017 were agreed and signed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

Report of the Executive Director of People

To consider petitions relating to Children’s Centres and Youth Services. The petition organisers have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of the petitions.

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Executive Director of People that responded to petitions relating to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s portfolio, that had been presented to the Council as part of a public consultation that took place from 12th September to 12th December 2016 on a set of proposals across Children’s Centres, nurseries, youth service and libraries with an associated Phase 2 savings target of £3.8m. The proposals included the development of integrated Family Hubs for 0 – 19 year olds located in areas of highest need (turning 8 Children’s Centres into Family Hubs and retaining Council delivery of a targeted and specialist youth offer focused on young people who are hardest to reach and most vulnerable as part of the Family Hub model).

Connecting Communities was an ambitious approach to redesigning services through collaboration with local communities. This was in the context of an estimated 55% grant reduction to Coventry City Council from Central Government between 2010/11 and 2020. 

During the consultation, 2 e-petitions and 3 written petitions had been received that related to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s portfolio in respect of the ‘Family Hubs’ proposal. 1 of the written petitions related to ‘Youth Services, Children’s Centres and Public Libraries’ and this petition would also be considered at a meeting of the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills on 6th March 2017.

Final decisions on all of the proposals detailed in the “Connecting Communities Phase 2” report would be made by the Cabinet at their meeting on 7th March 2017.

The petitions considered were as follows:

i)  An e-petition headed ‘Save our Children’s Centres’, received on 13th December 2016 and bearing 6 signatures, that stated:

“We believe that the proposal to close 9 Children’s Centres and convert 8 Children Centres into ‘family hubs’ is wilful neglect of the most important asset this city has for future prosperity and security – Coventry’s children.  Removing nursery provision from all Children Centres will place children at greater disadvantage and will increase inequality and social immobility.  There is no guarantee that private providers will take over nursery provision in Children’s Centres. Ofsted has found the provision at these Children’s Centres to be outstanding. We are not assured that privatisation of these public services will offer the same quality of nurturing for children and parents. Children Centres provide access to multiple support services for parents and children. The proposal gives little detail over what services the ‘family hubs’ will deliver, where they will be delivered, who will deliver them and how services delivered by the Council, NHS and the private sector will be integrated. The provision of services for areas of highest need will leave gaps in service provision, contrary to the Council’s early intervention strategy.

The petition organiser was unable to attend the meeting.

ii)  An e-petition headed ‘Save our Youth Services’ received on 13th December 2016 and bearing 11 signatures, that stated:

“We reject the Council’s proposal to close youth services at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

There are no outstanding issues.

There were no outstanding issues.

There were no items of other business.