Review of Crèche Services
Additional documents:
Decision:
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(1) |
That the in-house Crèche service provided at Queen’s Park Sports Centre be withdrawn by 31 December 2015 and does not transfer to the new Queen’s Park facility.
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(2) |
That the external contractor at the Healthy Living Centre be consulted and one of two options adopted:
• Crèche closure – subject to a 3 month notice period.
• Current contractor providing a proposal for use of the creche space on an independent basis and making a commercial payment to the Council as per other similar on site operations such as Catering and Beauty services currently in place.
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(3) |
That the Sport and Leisure team develop alternative activities within the respective site programmes to better facilitate participative activities for parents, carers and children.
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(4) |
That alternative use of the current Crèche space at the Healthy Living Centre be considered to maximise opportunities in meeting the Council’s value for money priority and 2020 performance expectations.
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(5) |
That an element of savings from the current crèche operations be redirected into reducing health inequalities in deprived ward areas in the borough including extension of the Village Games initiative. |
Minutes:
The Sport and Leisure Manager submitted a report for Members to consider the continued provision of crèche services within the Sport and Leisure Facility programmes.
The report set out the issues to be considered in respect of the future of in house crèche provision at the new Queen’s Park Sports Centre (QPSC), the future of the externally contracted crèche provision at the Healthy Living Centre (HLC), Staveley and the potential for reinvestment of identified crèche savings in targeted and prioritised community health and well-being partnership initiatives aimed at reducing health inequalities in the borough, and developing sustainable social capital and community resilience.
The current usage of the crèche services at QPSC and HLC was low and the services incurred a subsidy of approximately £60,000 per year. During consultation on the services for the new facility at Queen’s Park in 2013 demand for crèche services was the lowest priority. Details of the consultation were attached to the report.
The report outlined options for alternative provision, including programmes to encourage participation by the family unit and reinvestment in new or extending current initiatives to encourage participation in sport and physical activity in the borough’s communities. It was confirmed that arrangements would be made to signpost current users of the crèche service to other locally available services.
The report set out the financial, human resources and equalities implications, along with an assessment of the risks associated with the proposals and actions to mitigate these. Consultation had been undertaken with the Council staff affected and their Trade Unions and also with the external provider of crèche services at HLC, and details of this were included in the report.
RESOLVED –
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(1) |
That the in-house Crèche service provided at Queen’s Park Sports Centre be withdrawn by 31 December 2015 and does not transfer to the new Queen’s Park facility.
|
|
(2) |
That the external contractor at the Healthy Living Centre be consulted and one of two options adopted:
• Crèche closure – subject to a 3 month notice period.
• Current contractor providing a proposal for use of the creche space on an independent basis and making a commercial payment to the Council as per other similar on site operations such as Catering and Beauty services currently in place.
|
|
(3) |
That the Sport and Leisure team develop alternative activities within the respective site programmes to better facilitate participative activities for parents, carers and children.
|
|
(4) |
That alternative use of the current Crèche space at the Healthy Living Centre be considered to maximise opportunities in meeting the Council’s value for money priority and 2020 performance expectations.
|
|
(5) |
That an element of savings from the current crèche operations be redirected into reducing health inequalities in deprived ward areas in the borough including extension of the Village Games initiative. |
REASON FOR DECISIONS
To ensure that the Sport and Leisure service is fit for purpose and as a consequence able to maximise performance, continuous improvement and development to ensure that the Council’s Corporate Vision and Plan 2016 – 2020 is ... view the full minutes text for item 22