Agenda item

MOTION: A SURE START FOR EVERY CHILD IN WIRRAL

Minutes:

Proposed by Councillor Sheila Clarke

Seconded by Councillor Wendy Clements

 

(1)  Council believes that the creation of Sure Start Centres was one of the outstanding successes of the previous Government and that all parties support the principle of targeted, early intervention to ensure that no child is left behind.

 

(2)  Council welcomes the action taken by the previous Administration to protect the budget for Wirral’s Children’s Centres and the provision of a new grant, direct to each centre, to be invested as local circumstances required.

 

(3)  Council welcomes the commitment of the Coalition Government to recruit 4,200 qualified Health Visitors to work with Children’s Centres to further enhance the service provided to the most vulnerable parents in our communities.

 

(4)  Council, however, notes with concern the intention of the administration to reduce the Children’s Centres budget by £1.2m without consultation.

 

(5)  Council therefore requests that parents, staff and partner organisations, and the wider public, are consulted on the proposed changes and a report be brought to a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with the results of that consultation before any changes are implemented.

 

An amendment submitted by Councillor McLachlan in accordance with Standing Order 7(2) was withdrawn

 

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

 

Proposed by Councillor Phil Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Alan Brighouse

 

Delete paragraph (4) and insert:

 

Council recognises that Children's Centre surplus income has been carried forward over a number of years where there has been slippage in Centre budgets, or where income targets have exceeded estimates. There is an accumulated £1.2m 'one off' balance, dating back to when the Centres first opened, which has no impact on service delivery or budgets in the current year. Council considers that the accrued surplus can be used to support the current budgets covered by the Children's and Young People's Department, without detriment to the Centres. However, for the avoidance of doubt, the detail of this surplus and its proposed use should be reported to the relevant overview and scrutiny committee.

 

Delete paragraph (5)

 

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 7(8), the Council did not debate this matter.

 

The amendment was put and carried (37:26) (One abstention)

 

The substantive motion was then put and carried (37:26) (One abstention)

 

Resolved (37:26) (One abstention) Councillors T Anderson, C Blakeley, E Boult, Mrs SL Clarke, W Clements, T Cox, DM Elderton, GJ Ellis, J Green, J Hale, P Hayes, AC Hodson, M Hornby, PSC Johnson, P Kearney, J Keeley, I Lewis, D McCubbin, Mrs C Povall, Mrs L Rennie, SL Rowlands, A Sykes, S Taylor, GCJ Watt, S Williams and Mrs K Wood voting against –

 

(1)  Council believes that the creation of Sure Start Centres was one of the outstanding successes of the previous Government and that all parties support the principle of targeted, early intervention to ensure that no child is left behind.

 

(2)  Council welcomes the action taken by the previous Administration to protect the budget for Wirral’s Children’s Centres and the provision of a new grant, direct to each centre, to be invested as local circumstances required.

 

(3)  Council welcomes the commitment of the Coalition Government to recruit 4,200 qualified Health Visitors to work with Children’s Centres to further enhance the service provided to the most vulnerable parents in our communities.

 

(4)  Council recognises that Children's Centre surplus income has been carried forward over a number of years where there has been slippage in Centre budgets, or where income targets have exceeded estimates. There is an accumulated £1.2m 'one off' balance, dating back to when the Centres first opened, which has no impact on service delivery or budgets in the current year. Council considers that the accrued surplus can be used to support the current budgets covered by the Children's and Young People's Department, without detriment to the Centres. However, for the avoidance of doubt, the detail of this surplus and its proposed use should be reported to the relevant overview and scrutiny committee.