Agenda item - Bright Start Closure Proposal

Report of the Executive Director Families, Children and Learning – report to follow.

RESOLVED: That the Committee -

      i.         Noted the information regarding the proposal to close Bright Start Nursery being put forward to Budget Council on 23 February 2023.

     ii.         Agreed that its members receive a copy of the relevant Equalities Impact Assessment.

    iii.         Agreed that CYPS and P&R committee members receive the Building Survey carried out in 2019 and the Stage 1 Fire Risk Assessment carried out in August 2022.

   iv.         Agreed that CYPS and P&R committee members are informed of what assurances there are regarding the future employment of Bright Start Nursery staff.

39.1    The Head of Service – Family Hubs introduced the report which outlined         the proposal for the closure of Bright Start Nursery.

39.2    Cllr O’Quinn raised questions regarding the subsidised costs of the   nursery, the projected cost of building works, and options for alternative        sites.

39.3    Cllr Meadows raised questions regarding the nursery’s fees, whether          provision was still only available for children of Council staff, if Bright     Start was a SEND specialist nursery, and the availability of spaces in    other nurseries.

39.4    Ms Robinson questioned if assurances could be given to parents of     children with SEND should they require to move to another nursery.

39.5    Cllr Brown raised points regarding the support available for families to          find alternative provision and the budget proposal relating to Early   Childhood Project Toy Library at the Tarner Children’s Centre.

39.6    The Chair noted that there was a Labour Group amendment and invited     Cllr O’Quinn to move the amendment, which can be found on page 165 of addendum 3.

39.7    Cllr O’Quinn moved the amendment, which was seconded by Cllr     Sankey.

39.8    The Committee voted on the amendment, which the Conservatives         abstained from.

39.9    The Committee voted on the recommendations as amended, which the          Conservatives abstained from.

39.10 RESOLVED: That the Committee -

      i.         Noted the information regarding the proposal to close Bright Start Nursery being put forward to Budget Council on 23 February 2023.

     ii.         Agreed that its members receive a copy of the relevant Equalities Impact Assessment.

    iii.         Agreed that CYPS and P&R committee members receive the Building Survey carried out in 2019 and the Stage 1 Fire Risk Assessment carried out in August 2022.

   iv.         Agreed that CYPS and P&R committee members are informed of what assurances there are regarding the future employment of Bright Start Nursery staff.