Subject: Public Involvement – Written Questions

Date of meeting: 9 January 2023

WRITTEN QUESTIONS

A period of not more than fifteen minutes shall be allowed at each ordinary meeting for questions submitted by a member of the public.

The question will be answered without discussion. The person who asked the question may ask one relevant supplementary question, which shall be put and answered without discussion. The person to whom a question, or supplementary question, has been put may decline to answer it.

The following written questions have been received from members of the public:

1. Bright Start Nursery

Name: Ms S Perera

The Council has stated that it will attempt to minimise the impact of the Bright Start closure by working with various council services to place the children who will be affected. Can the Council explain exactly how this will happen, given the crisis of recruitment in Early Years, the decade of cuts to child services and the Council's own cost-saving strategy of not filling the vacant positions across the Council? What are the anticipated costs of mitigation measures and might they cancel out and savings from closing Bright Start?

2. Funding of Childcare Facilities

Name: Mr P Gilbert

The Argus reports that £1.5m will be raised from the community infrastructure levy by Summer 2023. On 13 December government clarified this can be used to fund childcare facilities. In addition, the delayed Whitehall settlement for Local Authority funding which was announced on 20 December has been welcomed by many councils across the UK for providing an unexpected 9% increase on last year. In light of these developments, how has Council reconsidered its decision to close the vital children’s services which support vulnerable children in the city centre including those from low income households, refugee families and children with SEND?