9
Under reference to item 7 of the Minute of meeting of this Policy Board held on 2 November 2017, there was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the development and submission of a revised draft early learning and childcare expansion plan to the Scottish Government.
The report intimated that following the submission of the original draft early learning and childcare expansion plan to the Scottish Government in September, the Scottish Government had written to Councils to request that a formal resubmission of the plans be made on a refreshed financial template by 2 March 2018. The revised draft plan included a reduction in the proposed number of new build facilities and capital projects and an increase in the number of places being offered on a doubling basis, such as morning and afternoon. The revised plan had been submitted by the Director to meet the deadline.
The report detailed the infrastructure developments which had been set out in the revised plan and advised that the Council would continue to engage with its existing partners and with providers who were not currently in partnership with the Council to progress future commissioning arrangements.
Councillor Paterson, seconded by Councillor Mylet moved (a) that the submission of Renfrewshire’s revised draft early learning and childcare expansion plan via the financial template to the Scottish Government on 9 March 2018, as outlined in section 4 of the report, be homologated; and (b) that it be agreed that the Director of Children’s Services continue to engage with partner providers to explore their ability to support the expansion programme and to negotiate a new rate from August 2018
Councillor Bibby, seconded by Councillor Kennedy, moved as an amendment that the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board notes the findings of the Audit Scotland report of 15 February 2018, highlighting the financial risks to councils in delivering the Early Learning and Child Care Entitlement expansion plan.
Board mandates its Convener to write to the Education and Finance Cabinet Secretaries seeking an immediate guarantee that the Scottish Government will fully fund the expansion plan in its entirety.
Further the Director of the Education and Children’s Services will bring forward a report to the next meeting of the Board with further detail of the specific risks to the Council's finances.
On the roll being called the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Bibby, Binks, Davidson, Graham, Kennedy and Kerr.
The following members voted for the motion: Provost Cameron and Councillors Don, Hughes, McNaughtan, Mylet, Nicolson, Paterson and Shaw
Six members having voted for the amendment and eight members having voted for the motion, the motion was accordingly declared carried.
DECIDED:
(a) That the submission of Renfrewshire’s revised draft early learning and childcare expansion plan to the Scottish Government via the financial template on 9 March 2018, as outlined in section 4 of the report, be homologated; and
(b) That it be agreed that the Director of Children’s Services continue to engage with partner providers to explore their ability to support the expansion programme and to negotiate a new rate from August 2018.