Councillor Tom Usher introduced a report by the Assistant Director: Early Help and Prevention which provided an overview of the Cradle to Career programme which was a collaboration between the Council, the education charities Right to Succeed and SHINE, the Steve Morgan Foundation, North Birkenhead Development Trust and the community of North Birkenhead to develop a place-based approach that would reduce the inequality gap for children and young people by transforming how public services, education providers and residents worked together for collective impact. The report outlined what the programme would deliver and the role of the Council’s Children’s Services and partners.

Councillor Usher informed that it was a pleasure to present this report to the last Cabinet meeting.  He had held his portfolio since May 2019 and during this time some great progress had been made in respect of the quality of children’s social services.  He appreciated the support and dedication of Cabinet Members, the Director of Child, Family and Education and his Team who had all shown an extraordinary dedication to improving the lives of children and families in the borough.  It had been a pleasure for him to work with the Team.

Councillor Usher reported that this project supported the Wirral Plan 2020-25 objectives:

-  Working for a prosperous, inclusive economy where local people can get good jobs and achieve their aspirations.

-  Working for safe and pleasant communities where Wirral residents feel safe, and where they want to live and raise their families.

-  Working for happy, active, and healthy lives where people are supported, protected, and inspired to live independently; and

-  Working for brighter futures for Wirral’s children, young people, and families by breaking the cycle of poor outcomes and raising the aspirations of every child in the borough.

This matter affected the Bidston St. James Ward and was not a key decision.

Councillor Usher made the point that this project was not short term, it was mid to long term and it was something the Council could fully support when local government was funded.  Unfortunately, the Council was under serious financial pressures which had not been helped by the Coronavirus Pandemic.  Councillor Usher was disappointed that the Government had praised the Council for its good work and for providing resources for this project, working in a way that really took seriously the  poverty and deprivation that occurred in some of its local communities but it had also decided not to cover all of the expenditure the Council had incurred whist assisting the Government with its response to the Pandemic

The Cabinet was informed that two other options had been considered.  The first option had been to not to engage as an active partner of the Cradle to Career Programme but to continue to deliver services to residents in North Birkenhead in the same way as had been done over previous years. This would risk the investment from sponsors being withdrawn and the opportunity for place-based change being lost. The second option had been to provide funding to the programme rather than a dedicated public services team. It was considered in the Council’s best interests to provide a staffing resource as professionals and services would gain from the experience, creating opportunity for further roll out of best practice.

Appended to the report were:

·  Appendix 1 - North Birkenhead Cradle to Career Executive Summary; and

·  Appendix 2 – Cradle to Career Public Services Team.

Councillor Anita Leech considered this to be a fantastic initiative that would run for a minimum of three years, tacking the inequalities in the North of Birkenhead area.  Hopefully, if successful it could be rolled out further to other similar areas of the borough.  Councillor Leech congratulated everyone who was involved with the project.

Councillor Stuart Whittingham welcomed this exciting initiative which he considered had been a long time coming.  He referred to the problems, previous Council funding and the deeply engrained inequalities caused because of the declining industries in that part of the borough.  Councillor Whittingham confirmed that this totally different approach was required.  Councillor Whittingham congratulated Councillor Usher and all parties involved with the project and wished them every success.

Councillor Pat Hackett also offered his congratulations to Councillor Usher and the officers involved with the project that would make a big difference to people living in this area of the borough by bringing in significant financial investments and providing extra support and education opportunities for children, young people and families in North Birkenhead.  Councillor Hackett also drew attention to the Wirral Waters Project and the significant development that would take place in this area along with the skills that would be needed.

Councillor Elizabeth Grey congratulated Councillor Usher and the officers involved with the project.  She represented that area of the borough concerned and informed that the people who lived there had such energy and potential which had not been enabled previously.  This initiative was so well deserved for these communities.  Councillor Grey was excited about the project and looked forward to developments over time.

Councillor Usher thanked Members for their comments and reported that the Council’s job was to remove the barriers that prevented success for the people in that community.  The people’s energy and brilliance were a vital part of the approach.  The Council was building this project with the community, it was no longer about hard to reach communities.  Some of the residents had pointed out that some of the services the Council had on offer were hard to access and it needed to get down there and work with that community to do what it could to reduce those social and health inequalities.

RESOLVED:

That the Cradle to Career partnership be supported and the three-year commitment to providing a dedicated public services team be endorsed.