1 Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

1.2 That the Children's Fund 3 Year Strategic Plan be endorsed and the progress of the Children's Fund thus far be commended.

1.3 The Children's Fund Partnership Board be congratulated on the number and quality of projects set up and the number of children engaged in them.

1.4 A further report be presented to the Executive Member for Social Care on the long term financial planning of the Hampshire Partnership Children's Fund .

2 Reason(s)

2.1 The Hampshire Children's Fund has a history of close working with the voluntary and community sector across the County, resulting in a wide diversity of projects based within local communities.

2.2 There are more than 140 projects currently operational across Hampshire, all of which are working towards outcomes that are closely congruent with the five outcomes of the Children Act. The Children's Fund is thus well placed to act as an exemplar of preventative services .

2.3 The Youth Inclusion and Support Schemes (YISPS) currently running in three areas (Gosport, New Forest and Rushmore) aim to nip youth offending in the bud, and will form strong partnerships with the Yot, and local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs)

2.4 Overall then, the Children's Fund is well placed to make a strong contribution towards the Local Preventative Strategy, and to the migration of existing services for children and young people to those proposed within the Children Act, and its progress so far is thus commended.

3. Other options considered and rejected

3.1 None

4. Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision-maker or other Executive Member consulted

4.1 None

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1 None

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

6.1 Not applicable

Approved by: Date of decision:

Councillor Felicity Hindson

1. Summary

1.1 A three year budget plan outlining a taper of 15% per year is attached (Appendix 2) to demonstrate the approach to incremental mainstreaming of services currently supported by the Fund. Also attached is the initial Standard Assessment Review noting the good progress of the Hampshire Children's Fund in its first year. Only the summary section is relevant and relates to the progress of the fund in its first year.

1.2 Attached to this summary, (Appendix 1) is the draft three year Strategic Plan required by the DfES, outlining the strategic direction for the Fund over the remainder of its existence, that is to say, the three financial years 05/06, 06/07 and 07/08. The Plan includes a detailed financial breakdown for each of the three years, although it should be noted that only the figure for 05/06 is confirmed at this time. The reason that the plan is still in draft is due to the very tight timescale that was set for preparation by the Government Office. The Children's Fund was not informed of the finalised budget settlement until the end of October 04, and the completed plan needs to be with the Government Office by no later than 31^st December 2004. The draft plan has been approved by the Children's Fund Partnership Board, which provides the overall governance of the Fund, and by the Children's Services Board, as Hampshire County Council is our Accountable Body. The draft has also been presented to, and noted by the Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership (CYPSP). Youth Offending Team and Primary Care Trust approval of the Plan is also required and will be sought in due course to ensure the Plan is signed of by the DfES during January 2005.

1 Reasons

1.1 The Strategic direction for the Children's Fund over the next 3 years is set out in detail in this plan and strong linkages are made with developments towards preventative services in other Hampshire statutory and voluntary provision for Children and Young People.

1.2 Whereas the Children's Fund monies do not come from Hampshire County Council budgets it is important to note the contribution that Children's Fund are making to developing effective cross cutting preventative strategies, and to approve the overall strategic direction across the three year period.

1.3 The Children's Fund has strong principles of equality of access to services and fairness and specific policies to ensure that these are carried into operation. Additionally, the fund adheres fully to all relevant Hampshire County Council policies on equality and access to services.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. That the Children's Fund 3 Year Strategic Plan be endorsed

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act

None