Issue - items at meetings - Children’s Services Fees and Charges 2014/15

Report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services (copy attached)

RESOLVED – (1) That the position on fees charged for nurseries as detailed in section 3.3 be agreed;

(2) That the position re Children’s Centres as detailed in section 3.4 be agreed re consulting on introducing charging for some Children Centre activities;

(3) That the position on fees charges for Childcare Workforce Development as detailed in section 3.5 be agreed;

(4) That the position on fees and charges for the Music and Arts Service as detailed in section 3.6 and Appendix 1 be noted;

(5) That the position on the charges for school meals as detailed in section 3.7 be noted; and

(6) That the position on fees charged by the Portslade Sports Centre in section 3.8 be agreed and the fees in Appendix 2 noted.

59.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services which reviewed the fees and charges for Children’s Services 2014/15 in accordance with corporate policy.

59.2    The Chair referred to amendments to the report which have been notified to Members in advance namely that, the final sentence of Paragraph 3.6.3 should be deleted as responsibility for this lay with the Music Service and fell outside the Committees’ remit. It was noted that each of the appropriate Assistant Directors was present  to answer any questions relevant to their service area and that the Head of Music and Arts and the Early Years and Childcare Strategy Manager would also be available to answer any questions in respect of their respective service areas.

59.3    In answer to questions the Head of the Music Service explained how fees were set for that service and the measures undertaken to seek to ensure that access to the service was available to those of limited financial means.

59.4    Councillor Brown sought clarification regarding provision of “Stay and Play” and in answer to further questions it was confirmed that support to encourage take up of free school meals by all who were entitled to them would be carried forward as part of a wider package. Councillor A Kitcat sought confirmation regarding how the cost of providing school meals was covered she was concerned that this was not used to subside other provision. The Acting Assistant Director, Education and Inclusion stated that she would check on this matter and would respond to Councillor Kitcat separately.

59.5    Councillors Pissaridou and Gilbey referred to the proposed charges for Portslade Sports Centre and it was explained that they were shown as they were because this facility remained attached to Portslade Aldridge Community College (PACA).

59.6    RESOLVED – (1) That the position on fees charged for nurseries as detailed in section 3.3 of the report be agreed;

(2) That the position re Children’s Centres as detailed in section 3.4 of the report be agreed re consulting on introducing charging for some Children Centre activities;

(3) That the position on fees charges for Childcare Workforce Development as detailed in section 3.5 of the report be agreed;

(4) That the position on fees and charges for the Music and Arts Service as detailed in section 3.6 and Appendix 1 of the report be noted;

(5) That the position on the charges for school meals as detailed in section 3.7 of the report be noted; and

(6) That the position on fees charged by the Portslade Sports Centre in section 3.8 of the report be agreed and the fees in Appendix 2 noted.

Note: Councillors Gilbey, Lepper and Pissaridou abstained from voting in respect of the above.