Agenda item - Children’s Services Fees and Charges 2016/17

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

Contact Officers: Louise Hoten                  Tel: 01273 293340

Ward(s) Affected: All Wards

55.1    RESOLVED: TheCommittee agreed that:

(1)  The position on fees charged for nurseries as detailed in section 3.3 of the report be agreed.

(2)  The position on fees charges for Childcare Workforce Development as detailed in section 3.4 of the report be agreed.

(3)  The position on fees and charges for the Music and Arts Service as detailed in section 3.5 of the report be agreed.

(4)  The position on the charges for school meals as detailed in section 3.6 of the report be noted.

(5)  The position on fees and charges for the accommodation of Children under Section 20 of the 1989 Children Act as detailed in section 3.7 of the report be agreed.

55.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services which set out the review of Children’s Services fees and charges in accordance with the corporate policy. The report was introduced by the Head of School Organisation and Head of Surestart.

55.2    The Chair referred to his earlier communication where he said that, subject to the committee’s decision today, the Council planned to freeze council nursery fees in real terms, increasing them in line with inflation.

55.3    Councillor Brown asked why there was a difference in nursery subsidies, and was advised that the greatest subsidies were within the most disadvantaged areas.

55.4    Councillor Brown referred to the ‘late collection’ charge and asked if private nurseries already did that. The Head of Surestart confirmed they did, and said that two members of staff were required to be present with a child, and so if they were late being collected two members of staff would need to be there.

55.5    Councillor Taylor noted the possible 2% increase in charges was based on inflation and asked why the Retail Price Index was used rather than the Consumer Price Index. The Head of School Organisation said that the increase was in line with the rise in staff salaries, but he wasn’t able to say why the Retail Price Index used.

55.6    RESOLVED: TheCommittee agreed that:

(1)  The position on fees charged for nurseries as detailed in section 3.3 of the report be agreed.

(2)  The position on fees charges for Childcare Workforce Development as detailed in section 3.4 of the report be agreed.

(3)  The position on fees and charges for the Music and Arts Service as detailed in section 3.5 of the report be agreed.

(4)  The position on the charges for school meals as detailed in section 3.6 of the report be noted.

(5)  The position on fees and charges for the accommodation of Children under Section 20 of the 1989 Children Act as detailed in section 3.7 of the report be agreed.