Issue - meetings

Councillor Getliffe submits a report informing the Cabinet of the multi-agency proposals for utilizing the Sure Start Unit invitation to submit proposals for three additional Sure Starts in Leicester City. Recommendations were made regarding these at the Leicester Children’s Planning Partnership meeting on 17 July 2001. The Cabinet is asked to note consultations on the report with the relevant Scrutiny Committee spokespersons, endorse the decision of the Leicester Children’s Planning Partnership and note that future progress will be reported to Scrutiny Committees.

Councillor Getliffe submitted a report informing the Cabinet of the multi-agency proposals for utilizing the Sure Start Unit invitation to submit proposals for three additional Sure Starts in Leicester City. It was noted that the issue had been discussed at a Leicester Children’s Planning Partnership meeting on 17 July 2001 and recommendations were made regarding the areas to be approached with regard to these potential new Sure Start areas

Further to the report, a letter had been received by the Chair of the Partnership from the Sure Start Unit explaining the the Unit would not be willing to agree the three identified catchment areas, which, as a package would be well over the number of children under four, as set out in the guidance and asking the Children’s Planning Partnership to reconsider its proposal.  The letter, which had been circulated to the Cabinet,  suggested that Braunstone and Highfields only be included in the programme.  It had also been indicated by the Sure Start Unit that if New Parks was included, the rest of the bids could be delayed indefinitely and possibly rejected.  The Leicester Children’s Planning Partnership had therefore agreed to amend their proposal in line with the recommendation of the Sure Start Unit.  Although he shared the concerns of the residents of the New Parks Ward, Councillor Getliffe referred to his City wide responsibility and circulated amended recommendations.

Both Councillors Roberts and Willmott spoke as ward councillors about their and their constituents’ disappointment that the inclusion of New Parks ward in this round of the Sure Start Programme had been rejected by the Sure Start Unit and expressed their view that they could not support recommendation 1.  Councillor Roberts read extracts from a letter from the New Parks Community Partnership expressing their frustration that New Parks had been excluded again from Government funding.

Whilst sympathising with the views of the residents and ward councillors of New Parks, the Cabinet supported Councillor Getliffe’s recommendations.

RESOLVED:

(1)       that the decision taken by the Leicester Children’s Planning Partnership following further exploration and detailed discussions with the Sure Start Unit, that the 5^th wave of Sure Start would be best met in developing services for 2,400 children in areas of Braunstone and Highfields, be noted:

(2)       that the dismay of New Parks Community Parnership be noted and a letter be written to the Sure Start Unit in support of a Sure Start 6^th wave programme for the New Parks area.

(3)       that the use of future Neighbourhood Renewal Fund Monies for additional capacity building work within the New Parks Community, be approved; and

(4)       that further progess of Sure Start 5 be reported to Scrutiny Committees.

Councillors Roberts and Willmott asked for their dissent to Resolution (1) to be recorded.