Decision Maker: Executive Member for Children & Families
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Approval to consult on the de-designation a small number of Children’s Centres. There are a total of 5 buildings. Statutory guidance from the Department for Education means that recipients must have regard to it when carrying out duties relating to children’s centres under the Childcare Act 2006. Any building currently registered as a designated children’s centres will need to be de-registered with the DfE following the de-registration guidance. The guidance recommends consultation with stakeholders prior to any change. Although all these centres have been closed since the pandemic and not re-opened there remains the need to follow the Statutory guidance.
To commence a public consultation on the
de-commissioning and closure of five designated Children’s
Centres, namely:
•Kirkbymoorside Children’s Centre
•Eastfield Children’s Centre
•South Craven Children’s Centre (Glusburn)
•Wensleydale Children’s Centre (Askrigg)
•Nidderdale Children’s Centre (Pateley Bridge)
De-designating the five Children’s
Centres and subsequent disposal plus the disposal of
two additional properties previously used by the Children and
Families service will yield annual revenue savings in the order of
£138,600 (including potential revenue income of
£6,000). Although there is a low risk of potential DfE
capital funding clawback, this has
not happened in previous cases in North Yorkshire.
The buildings proposed for de-designation were not used during the
pandemic due to low frequency of use and have not re-opened whilst
previous levels of service delivery have continued through
alternative service delivery offers including community buildings
and outreach.
Rationalising the number of buildings will enable greater
integration of service delivery alongside achieving savings
Publication date: 07/03/2023
Date of decision: 07/03/2023
Effective from: 15/03/2023
Accompanying Documents: