Agenda item

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help.

(a)       Cabinet noted and supported the opening of a national exemplar for Family Hubs in Swanage, Dorset.

(b)       That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property, to transfer the Chapel Lane site to the Swanage Development Partnership Trust (SDPT) through a community asset transfer process to enable the Family Hub to occupy the Chapel Lane site on terms to be agreed by the Executive Director, Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property, the Executive Director for People – Children and Executive Director People – Adults and Housing, including inter-alia:

·       Due diligence of SDPT (associated with transfer of asset).

·       Ensuring best value in terms of disposal of the asset, taking into account all other matters such as subsidy control.

·       Tenure and specific terms and conditions in relation to ongoing liabilities of the asset.

(c)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director People - Children to enter into a commissioning service level agreement with the SDPT for the provision of services in Swanage, funded by the DfE Family Hubs external grant.

(d)           That the People and Health Scrutiny Committee s be asked to receive and comment upon an annual review of the outcomes delivered by the Swanage Development Partnership Trust each year in March, the first annual review in March 2024.

Reason for the decision

This proposal supports the strategic objectives of the council to create strong, healthy communities. Dorset Council recognises the devolution of assets to local communities, particularly to town and parish councils and voluntary and community-based organisations can make a significant contribution to enabling them to be stronger, more resilient and to support services within their local areas. This proposal will enable the development of an intergenerational approach to service delivery in Swanage through the creation of a Family Hub that better meets the needs of the local community and supports the delivery of children’s and adult’s services commissioning strategies.

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills, and Early Help presented that proposal to the opening of a third family hub in Swanage in partnership with Swanage & Purbeck Development Partnership Trust (SPDPT).

In setting out the recommendations of the report, the Portfolio Holder proposed a minor amendment to recommendation 2, and that it be amended to read “that authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property”. The proposal with the amendment was seconded by Cllr G Suttle.

The Corporate Director for Commissioning and Partnerships and the Strategic Commissioner set out the detail of the proposal for an integrated service delivery model, which would be operated by the SPDPT to enable services for the community of all ages in Swanage. The local ward member spoke in support of the project.

In response to a question regarding timelines, the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills, and Early Help advised that he was keen to see the project progress promptly and Executive Director for Place confirmed that this transfer was being progressed at pace.

Decision

(a)       Cabinet noted and supported the opening of a national exemplar for Family Hubs in Swanage, Dorset.

(b)       That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property, to transfer the Chapel Lane site to the Swanage & Purbeck Development Partnership Trust (SPDPT) through a community asset transfer process to enable the Family Hub to occupy the Chapel Lane site on terms to be agreed by the Executive Director for Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property, the Executive Director for People – Children and Executive Director People – Adults and Housing, including inter-alia:

·       Due diligence of SPDPT (associated with transfer of asset).

·       Ensuring best value in terms of disposal of the asset, taking into account all other matters such as subsidy control.

·       Tenure and specific terms and conditions in relation to ongoing liabilities of the asset.

(c)           That authority be delegated to the Executive Director People - Children to enter into a commissioning service level agreement with the SPDPT for the provision of services in Swanage, funded by the DfE Family Hubs external grant.

(d)           That the People and Health Scrutiny Committee be asked to receive and comment upon an annual review of the outcomes delivered by the Swanage & Purbeck Development Partnership Trust each year in March, the first annual review in March 2024.

Reason for the decision

This proposal supported the strategic objectives of the council to create strong, healthy communities. Dorset Council recognised the devolution of assets to local communities, particularly to town and parish councils and voluntary and community-based organisations could make a significant contribution to enabling them to be stronger, more resilient and to support services within their local areas. This proposal will enable the development of an intergenerational approach to service delivery in Swanage through the creation of a Family Hub that better meets the needs of the local community and supports the delivery of children’s and adult’s services commissioning strategies.