Agenda item

To consider the following motion submitted by Councillors Tim Hamilton-Cox, Abi Mills and Andrew Kay:-

This council notes:

That the level of deprivation on education and health measures in the lower super output area (LSOA) covering part of the Ridge and Newton places the LSOA in the bottom 10% in England;

That the latest (2012) OFSTED report on Firbank said of the staff: 'Their extremely caring, respectful attitudes and dedication to improving the lives of the most disadvantaged families is a seam of gold influencing all of this centre’s work, inspiring loyalty, confidence and cooperation among professional partnerships and parents. Consequently, provision and outcomes are good.'

And further, that the OFSTED report underlined the symbiotic relationship between centre, nursery and school: 'The onsite nursery, the centre and the adjacent school sensibly share the assessment and support systems for children. This eases the children’s movement between settings, which is particularly important for children who are receiving additional support...The centre is becoming a real hub of the local community';

That closure is likely to impact on the viability of the nursery currently co-located in the building and which offers the only nursery provision in the area;

That closure is contrary to the statutory role of Lancashire County Council 'to secure sufficient children's centres which are accessible to all families with young children, and targeted evidence-based interventions for those families in greatest need of support';

That the proposed alternative provision at Lune Park (in Ryelands Park) is not accessible to much of Bulk ward in the 30-minute pram-pushing time set as the accessibility criterion in the County Property Strategy, and that it is a pedestrian-aversive route;

That closure contradicts the leader of Lancashire County Council's comment (May 2016) on the Property Strategy which has occasioned closure: that, “We are not cutting services but reducing the number of expensive buildings...”

This council acknowledges the unprecedented squeeze on council budgets caused by government funding cuts but calls on Lancashire County Council to prioritise services to families in greatest social need in order to prevent future, more intensive and expensive intervention by children's social care services.

Accordingly, this council mandates the Chief Executive to write to Lancashire County Council calling on it to reverse its decision to close Firbank Children's Centre at its next Cabinet meeting on 6^th October for the reasons set out above.

An officer briefing note is attached.

Having previously declared a prejudicial interest in the following motion on notice, Councillors Brown, Clifford and Hanson left the meeting. 

Councillor  Hamilton-Cox had submitted the following motion having given the required notice to the Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15:-

“This council notes:

That the level of deprivation on education and health measures in the lower super output area (LSOA) covering part of the Ridge and Newton places the LSOA in the bottom 10% in England;

the latest (2012) OFSTED report on Firbank which said of the staff: 'Their extremely caring, respectful attitudes and dedication to improving the lives of the most disadvantaged families is a seam of gold influencing all of this centre’s work, inspiring loyalty, confidence and cooperation among professional partnerships and parents. Consequently, provision and outcomes are good.'

And further that the OFSTED report underlined the symbiotic relationship between centre, nursery and school: 'The onsite nursery, the centre and the adjacent school sensibly share the assessment and support systems for children. This eases the children’s movement between settings, which is particularly important for children who are receiving additional support...The centre is becoming a real hub of the local community';

That closure is likely to impact on the viability of the nursery currently co-located in the building and which offers the only nursery provision in the area;

That closure is contrary to the statutory role of Lancashire county council 'to secure sufficient children's centres which are accessible to all families with young children, and targeted evidence-based interventions for those families in greatest need of support';

that the proposed alternative provision at Lune Park (in Ryelands Park) is not accessible to much of Bulk ward in the 30-minute pram-pushing time set as the accessibility criterion in the County property strategy, and that it is a pedestrian-adversive route;

That closure contradicts the leader of Lancashire county council's comment (May 2016) on the property strategy which has occasioned closure: that, “We are not cutting services but reducing the number of expensive buildings...”

This council acknowledges the unprecedented squeeze on council budgets caused by government funding cuts but calls on Lancashire county council to prioritise services to families in greatest social need in order to prevent future, more intensive and expensive intervention by children's social care services.

Accordingly, this council mandates the chief executive to write to Lancashire county council calling on it to reverse its decision to close Firbank children's centre at its next cabinet meeting on 6^th Octoberfor the reasons set out above.”

An officer briefing note had been provided with the agenda to assist Councillors.

Councillor Hamilton-Cox moved the motion, seconded by Councillor Kay.

By way of an amendment, which was accepted as a friendly amendment by the proposer and seconder of the motion, Councillor Charles proposed that a request to keep Galgate Children’s Centre open be included in the motion. 

Members debated the amended motion.

At the conclusion of a lengthy debate, a vote was taken on the amended motion.  24 Councillors voted in favour of the motion and 26 against, therefore the motion was lost.

Councillors Brown, Clifford and Hanson returned to the meeting at this point.