Agenda item

Executive Members are asked to note the contents of this report, and to recommend to the Chief Executive Officer that using his emergency powers he:

i)     Approve in principle the redevelopment of Bewerley Park in two phases, with a new accommodation block in phase 1 funded by a policy investment and the central hub and further accommodation in phase 2 linked to recommendation v.

ii)    Approve in principle improvements at East Barnby to ensure facilities are of a standard which can maintain existing customers and grow the customer base.

iii)    Approve an investment of up to £400,000 for the Outdoor Learning Service alongside the Property Service, Procurement and the North Yorkshire consultancy ‘Align Property Partners’, to move to full business case to include:

·       draw up detailed designs for capital work at both sites

·       investigate and apply for any required planning permission

·       undertake any surveys necessary in securing planning permission

·       go to the market for tenders for the proposed building work

iv)   Offer the Outdoor Learning Service the opportunity to prove it can operate as an efficient service with a commercial ethos by undertaking the following:

·       Implement a new Outdoor Learning Strategy which includes marketing and business development

·       Recruitment to key posts in the service leadership team

·       Evidence of an increase in engagement with customers and external organisations, where permitted.

·       Evidence of investigating commercial opportunities

·       Evidence of seeking out other funding streams

v)    Invites the service to return with a full business case, to agree the implementation of phase 1.

Considered –

A report of the Corporate Director – Children and Young People’s Service seeking Executive Members views on the findings from a strategic review of the Outdoor Learning Service.

County Councillor Patrick Mulligan introduced the report and drew attention to the desk-based research and analysis, extensive stakeholder engagement and property inspections that had taken place as part of the review.

He also outlined a number of challenges facing the service, as detailed at paragraph 3.23 of the report, and noted the significant capital investment that would be required to improve the facilities at the centres and make them fit for purpose going forward.

Members welcomed the report and acknowledged the benefits a residential learning experience could bring, and how it could improve the outcomes and experiences for young people in North Yorkshire.  They also recognised that in order to ensure the long term viability of the Service, the facilities at the centres would require significant capital investment and the Service would need to be transformed on to a more commercial footing. 

Members were pleased to provide this opportunity but agreed this was only the first step to achieving a long term future for the Service.  They stressed that the Service would need to deliver a strong business case for a financially sustainable model.

Stuart Carlton, Director - Children and Young People’s Service, reassured Members that the Service understood that it was being given an opportunity to flourish and would work hard to demonstrate its potential.

It was noted that the Executive would receive a further report in the future and on that basis, Members agreed to note the contents of the report, and to recommend to the Chief Executive Officer that using his emergency powers he:

i)        Approve in principle the redevelopment of Bewerley Park in two phases, with a new accommodation block in phase 1 funded by a policy investment and the central hub and further accommodation in phase 2 linked to recommendation v.

ii)       Approve in principle improvements at East Barnby to ensure facilities were of a standard which could maintain existing customers and grow the customer base.

iii)      Approve an investment of up to £400,000 for the Outdoor Learning Service alongside the Property Service, Procurement and the North Yorkshire consultancy ‘Align Property Partners’, to move to full business case to include:

·       The drawing up of detailed designs for capital work at both sites

·       investigating and applying for any required planning permission

·       undertaking any surveys necessary in securing planning permission

·       going to the market for tenders for the proposed building work

iv)      Offer the Outdoor Learning Service the opportunity to prove it can operate as an efficient service with a commercial ethos by undertaking the following:

·       Implementing a new Outdoor Learning Strategy which includes marketing and business development

·       Recruiting to key posts in the service leadership team

·       Evidencing an increase in engagement with customers and external organisations, where permitted.

·       Evidencing investigation of commercial opportunities

·       Evidencing the seeking out other funding streams

v)      Invites the service to return with a full business case, to agree the implementation of phase 1.

County Councillor Patrick Mulligan left the meeting on conclusion of this agenda item.