Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area:

1.1. The decision area is based around the approval of the proposed strategy for the implementation of phase 3 of the Sure Start Children's Centre programme within Hampshire.

2) Issues Covered in Report:

2.1. The report covers the key areas for seeking approval to the recommendations proposed in section 3 below, in order to achieve delivery of phase 3 of the children's centre programme within Hampshire, including:

_ Core offer and implementation;

_ Governance;

_ Management and procurement, including outline timescales;

_ Capital programme; and

_ Proposed Notional Catchment Areas (NCAs), including phase 2 adjustments.

2.2. The report also feeds back on the key findings of the strategy stage of the phase 3 consultation programme (01 May - 31 July 2008), which has influenced the design of the final strategy proposal.

3) Recommendations:

3.1. This report recommends that the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) notes the findings of the phase 3 consultation summary paper (children's centre Hantsweb pages, under `strategy stage summary' tab - http://www3.hants.gov.uk/phase3consultation.htm) and approves:

a) the development of 25 phase 3 children's centres and their associated NCAs;

b) the proposed delivery strategy for implementing phase 3 children's centres within Hampshire;

c) Children's Centre Services (CCS) co-ordinating an open tender process to identify organisations to manage phase 3 children's centres through a service contract; and

d) devolved responsibility to the chair of the Children's Centres Project Board, the Deputy Director of Children's Services - Education and Inclusion, for decisions regarding the specific siting of children's centre `gateway' buildings.

MAIN REPORT

1) Purpose of the Report

1.1. The aim of the report is to provide an update on the consultation summary and seek approval for:

a) the development of 25 phase 3 children's centres and their associated NCAs;

b) the proposed delivery strategy for implementing phase 3 children's centres within Hampshire;

c) Children's Centre Services (CCS) co-ordinating an open tender process to identify organisations to manage phase 3 children's centres through a service contract; and

d) devolved responsibility to the Children's Centres Project Board, chaired by the Deputy Director of Children's Services - Education and Inclusion, for decisions regarding the specific siting of children's centre `gateway' buildings.

2) Contextual Information

2.1. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) have required local authorities to develop children's centres in three separate phases, with associated targets for both the number of centres and number of under fives reached.

2.2. In phase 1, children's centres needed to serve the 20% most disadvantaged wards and/or pockets of disadvantage, as detailed in the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2000. Seven children's centres were designated in Hampshire during this phase.

2.3. In phase 2 of the programme, a further 53 children's centres were developed across the county. As a result, approximately 70% of Hampshire's under fives are currently served by a children's centre.

2.4. Two models of children's centre service delivery were developed in this phase; `Full Core Offer' and `Graduated'. `Full Core Offer' children's centres serve communities within the top 35% most deprived areas (not including those served by a children's centre in phase 1), according to the IMD 2004. Graduated children's centres serve the 65% relatively more advantaged areas, according to the IMD 2004.

2.5. Hampshire County Council is required to deliver additional children's centres in phase 3 of the programme to ensure 100% coverage of all children under five within Hampshire.

2.6. The County Council undertook a full three-month consultation process (01 May - 31 July 2008) on the development of children's centres across the county, under phase 3 of the Government's initiative.

2.7. Children's centres play a key role in improving outcomes for all young children and reducing inequalities in outcomes between the most disadvantaged children and the rest.

2.8. Children's centres are aimed at parents and carers with children under five years old, but will work closely with other initiatives such as Extended Schools so that families have easy access to age appropriate services throughout childhood.

2.9. Children's centres provide a range of services depending on local need and parental choice.  They aim to offer information, advice and support to fathers, mothers and carers, as well as integrated childcare and early learning, health services, family support, parental outreach and employment advice.

3) Key Issues

3.1. The key issues considered when designing the strategy were:

3.1.1. ensuring that Government targets and County Council requirements were met, including NCA numbers being within acceptable limits;

3.1.2. ensuring the proposed strategy was clear and reasonable for stakeholders;

3.1.3. that NCAs met local boundaries and worked in practice, not just as a desktop exercise; and

3.1.4. that proposals fitted within the funding model for children's centres.

3.2. The following sections of the report detail the final proposed strategy for delivery of phase 3 children's centres including governance, management routes and NCAs.

4) Core Offer and Implementation

4.1. Phase 3 children's centres will provide improved access to services for families living in less disadvantaged and more affluent areas.

4.2. Services, provided in partnership with private, voluntary, independent (PVI) and statutory agencies, will include:

_ outreach services for isolated families at greatest risk of social exclusion;

_ information and advice for mothers, fathers and carers on a range of subjects for young children;

_ support for childminders via a quality-assured, co-ordinated network;

_ activities for parents/carers and children;

_ links to Jobcentre Plus providing advice on training and employment opportunities for parents; and

_ access to community health services.

4.3. Childcare will not be provided as part of the core service, other than signposting to all available childcare in the area (as provided by Hampshire's Families Information Service).

4.4. Specific services provided by each children's centre will be developed in partnership with local communities.

4.5. The information gathered from the strategy stage of consultation, alongside the service delivery stage consultation, will be used to inform the tailoring of the range of services detailed in section 4.2. This will ensure services meet local needs and deliver the required elements of provision.

4.6. The intention is not to duplicate services that already exist in the area. New or additional services will not be developed where sufficient, high quality provision already exists. Services may not always be delivered directly by the children's centre, but through existing providers, who may be encouraged to expand or adapt their current service offering in order to meet demand. An important aspect of phase 3 development will include the strengthening of partnership working with the statutory and PVI sector.

5) Governance

5.1. The County Council has developed a model of governance that is both robust (in terms of accountability to the Local Authority) and flexible in meeting community needs. The proposed model, which has been approved by the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education), has been informed by:

_ existing governance arrangements within the national Sure Start Local Programmes;

_ guidance within the DfES discussion paper - `Governance and Management of Extended Schools and Sure Start Children's Centres' (November 2006); and

_ feedback from Hampshire's consultation process.

5.2. The County Council's governance model for children's centres within Hampshire will also apply to all phase 3 children's centres, regardless of the management option implemented.

5.3. A copy of the County Council's governance model for children's centres within Hampshire, can be found at http://www3.hants.gov.uk/childrens-services/childrenandyoungpeople/childrens-centres/childrenscentres-governancemodel.htm.

6) Management and Procurement:

6.1. The County Council will seek to promote the management of children's centres in phase 3 by school and third party organisations.

6.2. Service contracts will be managed through an open tender process, with advertisements for expressions of interest expected to be released in October/November 2008, subject to approval. Tender opportunities will be advertised on Hampshire County Council's Corporate Procurement pages on Hantsweb (http://www.hants.gov.uk/procurement/tenders/), the children's centres pages on Hantsweb, as well as advertised in the local press and relevant trade journals.

6.3. The legal practice team, within the County Council's Chief Executive's Department, have advised CCS that this tender opportunity is not required to be advertised through the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). Therefore, outline timescales for the tender process are as follows:

Milestone	Timescales
Approval to Open Tender Process	16 October 2008
Advertisements placed requesting `Expressions of Interest' (EoI)	w/c 20 October 2008 (3 weeks)
Deadline for EoI submissions	14 November 2008
`Invitation to Tender' (ITT) documents distributed	w/c 17 November 2008
Deadline for ITT Submissions	12 January 2009
ITT Evaluations	w/c 15 January 2009 (2-3 weeks)
Service Contract Negotiations	February-March 2009
Executive Member Decision Day - Approval of Contracts	12 March 2009
Service Contracts Awarded	End of March 2009
Service Contracts Start Date	April 2009 and October 2009

6.4. Service contracts for phase 3 will begin on a phased basis. The phasing of delivery is due to the limitations of the budget and not being able to fund a full year's service for all phase 3 children's centres in the financial year 2009/10 (see section 7).

6.5. Service contracts will be offered initially up to the end of the 2010/11 financial year, with the option of extending for a further three years, subject to satisfactory performance and confirmation of further funding from central Government past March 2011.

6.6. The tender evaluation process will ensure that organisations putting forward a ITT submission can demonstrate:

_ an understanding of the children's centre programme and ethos;

_ experience of working with children and families, including references;

_ financial stability;

_ an understanding of the expectations of delivery, including line management of children's centre leaders; as well as

_ the ability to deliver against the service contract.

6.7. Hampshire County Council has put together information within the Corporate Procurement website, designed to help organisations understand how the County Council does business and the tender opportunities which are currently available.

6.8. Part of the information provided includes a guide for businesses and other organisations wishing to do business with the County Council (http://www.hants.gov.uk/procurement/sellers.html).

6.9. CCS will also aim to ensure that guidance is provided with the tender documentation templates in order to assist organisations in completing the paperwork without influencing the outcome.

6.10. Where the open tender process proves unsuccessful, children's centres will be directly managed by Hampshire County Council.

7) Revenue Funding

7.1. Funding for children's centres in 2009/10 is still a high level estimate and detailed allocations for the service are still to be set. As an outline, CCS continues to use the model supplied in the DCSF phase 3 planning guidance as a minimum requirement, set at £100,500 per centre. For a proposed additional 25 children's centres, this amounts to an estimated £2.5m per annum.

7.2. Table 1 summarises the funding for all children's centres and the three year budget plan.

Table 1: Children's centres funding and planned allocation

	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11
	£000	£000	£000
Funding Allocations:
Main Sure Start allocation	9,761	13,133	16,071
Former SSLP* allocation	1,301	1,042	915
DSG** carry forward	1,400	18	0
Total funding	12,462	14,175	16,985
Allocated as follows:
a. Central support costs	1,364	1,504	1,535
b. Former SSLP allocation	1,301	1,042	915
c. Allocation to children's centres from main sure start allocation	9,691	11,647	14,510
d. Number of centres	58	Estimate 71	83
Average per centre (= c / d)	167	164	175

* = Sure Start Local Programme

** = Dedicated Schools Grant

7.3. The funding in the financial year 2008/09, includes £1.4m Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) carry forward. This has enabled CCS to fund setting up costs from phase 2, which were budgeted for in 2006/07 but not incurred due to the delays in appointing staff and the completion of capital programmes. This has the effect of increasing the average cost per children's centre above what was allocated through the Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare Grant (SSEYCG) in 2008/09 compared to 2009/10.

7.4. The timing of costs relating to the implementation of the actual phase 3 children's centres is still to be agreed.  Although there has been a sum budgeted and allocated for the consultation on phase 3 during 2008/09, until this and any potential tendering process is completed, it will not be possible to confirm the timing of expenditure next year as this will depend on:

_ whether the service will be contracted;

_ whether the service has to be run by the County Council;

_ the revenue impact of any capital expenditure requirements on the setting up of phase 3 children's centres; and

_ funding available.

7.5. In order to estimate the affordability of the additional 25 children's centres proposed for phase 3, a broad comparison between the average funding per children's centre has been calculated. Assuming that the service incurs an average of 6 months costs for the 25 new children's centres in 2009/10, the average funding for the year will be £164,000 per centre. This is a slight decrease in that available in 2008/09. However, the amount of funding required for each of the additional centres is estimated to be the region of the £100,500 full year effect and this reduction in the average would therefore be expected. On this basis, the estimated ongoing average cost for the 83 centres¹ will be £175,000 per annum.

7.6. Therefore, there is sufficient funding for the number of children's centres proposed for phase 3, providing there is careful phasing of the start dates of the 25 new children's centres in 2009/10.

7.7. A detailed review of the funding formula is being undertaken and this will aim to ensure that funding in 2009/10 and 2010/11 is appropriately targeted for the delivery of the required outcomes.

8) Capital Programme

8.1. Capital funding will be used to support a programme of construction work which will include refurbishments, minor extensions and possibly mobile children's centres.

8.2. Phase 3 capital funding is restricted to £9,643,872 across the period 2008 to 2011. This equates to an average of £385,754 per children's centre.

8.3. Children's centre `Gateway' buildings (the main hub of the children's centre which houses the management team) will be developed within the most deprived Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA) of the NCA, where possible. These buildings will be supported by a programme of outreach, in local venues such as village halls, and through home visiting services.

8.4. Families will not be expected to travel great distances to access services and children's centres will be responsible for ensuring, through partnership working, that services and information are made available in local communities, co-ordinated from the central gateway building.

8.5. Through feedback gathered from the phase 3 consultation exercise and information held centrally on a variety of facilities across the county, Hampshire County Council will carry out an assessment of potential gateway buildings.

8.6. The proposed process is to follow the same method used for the selection and approval of sites in phase 2. The project team will use a scoring matrix to consider issues which may impact on the development of a building e.g. location to population density, existing capacity to deliver core offer, feasibility costings and value for money. Sections will be weighted in favour of those elements most important to the children's centre programme.

8.7. The matrix forms will then be submitted to the Children's Centres Project Board with a recommendation for the gateway building site. The Project Board will make an assessment against the forms and provide feedback to the chair. The chair will then provide approvals, as appropriate, in order to move forward negotiations with that site.

9) Notional Catchment Areas

9.1. Hampshire County Council is required to deliver additional children's centres in phase 3 of the programme, to serve those areas not yet being served by phase 1 or 2. In order to achieve 100% coverage of all under fives within Hampshire, an additional 25 children's centre NCAs are proposed. The NCA is the geographical area a children's centre will serve, which on average, will reach between 600 and 1200 children under five.

9.2. Table 2 identifies the number of children's centres proposed to be developed in phase 3, alongside the total number of children's centres in each district area by April 2010.

Table 2: Proposed number of children's centres

District Council Area	Number of proposed phase 3 children's centres	Total number of children's centres (phases 1 - 3)
Basingstoke & Deane	6	11
East Hampshire	2	8
Eastleigh	3	9
Fareham	1	5
Hart	7	7
Rushmoor	1	7
Test Valley	2	6
Winchester	3	7
Gosport	0	6
Havant	0	9
New Forest	0	10
Total	25	85

9.3. The boroughs of Gosport and Havant will not receive additional children's centres in phase 3, as all under fives are served by existing phase 1 and 2 centres. The same applies to the New Forest district, where additional coverage will be provided by expansion of three existing phase 2 children's centres.

9.4. A full list of all the proposed children's centres, including deprivation levels and under five population figures set at LSOA, is provided on the children's centre consultation summary Hantsweb pages under the `strategy stage summary' tab (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/phase3consultation.htm). The proposed phase 3 NCAs have also been provided in map form on the children's centre Hantsweb pages at http://www3.hants.gov.uk/childrens-services-childrenscentres-phase3ncamaps.htm.

9.5. The following proposed NCAs have been developed through an initial desktop exercise for consultation, with further work incorporating feedback from local communities via the consultation programme.

9.6. Borough of Basingstoke & Deane (B&D) - Phase 3:

9.6.1 An additional six children's centres will be developed within the borough of Basingstoke and Deane during phase 3.

9.6.2 The following NCAs are proposed to be developed to ensure phase 3 centres serve the remaining areas within this borough:

_ B&D NCA 6 - Wards of Burghclere, Kingsclere, East Woodhay and parts of Highclere & Bourne ward (Map 1.1);

_ B&D NCA 7 - Wards of Tadley North, Tadley South, Baughurst, Pamber and parts of Calleva ward (Map 1.2);

_ B&D NCA 8 - Ward of Chineham and parts of Sherborne St John Ward and Calleva ward (Map 1.3);

_ B&D NCA 9 - Ward of Basing (Map 1.4) - twinned with B&D NCA 8;

_ B&D NCA 10 - Ward of Hatch Warren & Beggarwood and parts of Upton Grey & The Candovers ward (Map 1.5);

_ B&D NCA 11 - Wards of Oakley & North Waltham, Whitchurch, Overton, Laverstoke & Steventon and part of Highclere & Bourne ward (Map 1.6).

9.7. District of East Hampshire (EH) - Phase 3:

9.7.1 An additional two children's centres are proposed to be developed within the district of East Hampshire in phase 3.

9.7.2 The following NCAs are proposed to be developed to ensure phase 3 children's centres serve the remaining areas within this district:

_ EH NCA 7 - Wards of Selborne, Downland, and Binsted & Bentley (Map 1.7) - proposed to be twinned with an existing phase 2 East Hampshire children's centre;

_ EH NCA 8 - Wards of Ropley & Tisted, Four Marks & Medstead, The Alresfords and Cheriton & Bishops Sutton (Map 1.8).

9.7.3 The NCA serving the Ropley/Four Marks area (EH NCA 8) will cross district authority boundaries, serving The Alresfords ward and Cheriton & Bishops Sutton ward from the district of Winchester.

9.8. Borough of Eastleigh (E) - Phase 3:

9.8.1 An additional three children's centres will be developed within the borough of Eastleigh during phase 3.

9.8.2 Consultation feedback has identified that the following NCAs be developed to ensure phase 3 centres serve the remaining areas within this borough:

_ E NCA 7 - Wards of Hiltingbury East, Hiltingbury West, Compton & Otterbourne and parts of Valley Park ward (Map 1.9);

_ E NCA 8 - Wards of Hedge End St John's and Botley ward (Map 1.10);

_ E NCA 9 - Wards of Hedge End Grange Park and Hedge End Wildern (Map 1.11).

9.8.3 The children's centre serving the Hiltingbury area (E NCA 7) will cross district authority boundaries, with the NCA serving Compton & Otterbourne ward from the district of Winchester and Valley Park within the district of Test Valley.

9.9. Borough of Fareham - Phase 3:

9.9.1 One additional children's centre will be developed within the borough of Fareham in phase 3.

9.9.2 In providing 100% coverage of the borough, the children's centre will be developed to serve the wards of Park Gate and Sarisbury, as well as parts of the Warsash ward (Map 1.12).

9.10. District of Hart (H) - Phase 3:

9.10.1 Seven children's centres will be developed within the district of Hart during phase 3.

9.10.2 A strong consultation response to changes to the proposed NCAs has led to a restructuring of the NCAs for Hart. Therefore, the following NCAs should be developed to ensure phase 3 centres serve all areas within this district:

_ H NCA 1 - Wards of Yateley North, Yateley West, Eversley and parts of Yateley East ward and Blackwater & Hawley ward (Map 1.13);

_ H NCA 2 - Wards of Frogmore & Darby Green and parts of Yateley East ward and Blackwater & Hawley ward (Map 1.14);

_ H NCA 3 - Wards of Hartley Wintney and Hook and part of Odiham ward (Map 1.15);

_ H NCA 4 - Parts of the Fleet North ward, including all housing areas (Map 1.16);

_ H NCA 5 - Wards of Fleet Central, Fleet Pondtail and Fleet West (Map 1.17);

_ H NCA 6 - Wards of Fleet Courtmoor, Church Crookham East, Church Crookham West and Crondall (Map 1.18);

_ H NCA 7 - Parts of Odiham ward and Upton Gray & The Candovers ward and the whole of Long Sutton ward (Map 1.19).

9.10.3 The children's centre serving the majority of the Odiham area (H NCA 7) will cross district authority boundaries, serving Upton Gray & The Candovers ward from the borough of Basingstoke & Deane.

9.11. Borough of Rushmoor (R) - Phase 3:

9.11.1 One additional children's centre will be developed within the borough of Rushmoor in phase 3.

9.11.2 This children's centre (R NCA 7) will be developed to serve the wards of St Mark's and Knellwood and a small part of the Fleet North ward which does not include any of the housing areas (Map 1.20), ensuring 100% coverage of the borough.

9.11.3 Although this NCA will technically cross district authority boundaries, serving a small part of Fleet North ward from the district of Hart, the area itself naturally faces the borough of Rushmoor. The area included covers the Cody Technology Park only from which the main access is within the borough of Rushmoor. All of the housing areas will remain within Hart.

9.12. Borough of Test Valley (TV) - Phase 3:

9.12.1 Two additional children's centres will be developed within the borough of Test Valley during phase 3.

9.12.2 The following NCAs will be developed to ensure phase 3 children's centres serve the remaining areas within this borough:

_ TV NCA 5 - Wards of Amport, Anna, Bourne Valley, Harewood, Over Wallop and Penton Bellinger (Map 1.21);

_ TV NCA 6 - Wards of Dun Valley, Kings Somborne & Michelmersh and Broughton & Stockbridge (Map 1.22).

9.13. District of Winchester (W) - Phase 3:

9.13.1 An additional three children's centres will be developed within the district of Winchester in phase 3.

9.13.2 Taking into account the initial desktop exercise and adjustment to reflect the consultation feedback, the following NCAs will be developed to ensure phase 3 centres serve the remaining areas within this district:

_ W NCA 5 - Wards of Kings Worthy, Wonston & Micheldever and Itchen Valley (Map 1.23);

_ W NCA 6 - Wards of Bishops Waltham, Owslebury & Curdridge and Colden Common & Twyford (Map 1.24);

_ W NCA 7 - Wards of Denmead, Droxford, Soberton & Hambledon, Swanmore & Newtown and Upper Meon Valley (Map 1.25).

9.14. Phase 2 NCA Amendments:

9.14.1 In order to achieve 100% coverage of all communities in Hampshire, some NCAs developed under phase 2 will be required to expand.

9.14.2 The following children's centres will serve amended areas as part of the phase 3 delivery programme:

Borough of Basingstoke & Deane

_ Westside Children's Centre - expanded to include parts of Brookvale & Kings Furlong ward;

District of East Hampshire

_ Bushy Leaze Children and Families Centre - expanded to include the ward of Holybourne & Froyle;

_ Tree Tops Children's Centre - expanded to include the ward of Lindford;

_ Branches Children's Centre - expanded to include the ward of Rowlands Castle;

_ Heath Children's Centre - expanded to include the ward of East Meon;

Borough of Eastleigh

_ Aviary Children's Centre - adjusted to include the ward of Chandler's Ford East;

Borough of Fareham

_ Oak Meadow Children's Centre - expanded to include the ward of Fareham West and parts of Titchfield ward;

_ Strawberry Meadow Children's Centre - adjusted to include the wards of Titchfield Common and Locks Heath, as well parts of Warsash ward;

District of New Forest

_ All Seasons Children's Centre - expanded to include part of Hordle ward;

_ The Phoenix Children's Centre - expanded to include the ward of Milford and part of Hordle ward;

_ Seedlings Children's Centre - expanded to include the ward of Boldre & Sway;

Borough of Rushmoor

_ Maple Vue Children's Centre - expanded to include the part of the ward of Wellington;

Borough of Test Valley

_ Sunshine Children's Centre - expanded to include the ward of Ampfield & Braishfield;

District of Winchester

_ Lanterns Children's Centre - expanded to include the ward of Sparsholt;

_ Merry-Go-Round Children's Centre - expanded to include ward of Boarhunt and Southwick.

9.14.3 A full list of LSOAs, including the amended phase 2 NCAs, can be found on the children's centre consultation summary Hantsweb pages under the `strategy stage summary' tab (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/phase3consultation.htm).

10) Consultation programme:

Method

10.1. The phase 3 children's centre strategy consultation programme was conducted over a three month period from 01 May to 31 July 2008. This stage of consultation set out the vision for delivering phase 3 of the children's centre programme within Hampshire, including proposed NCAs, through a briefing paper, supporting questionnaires and a variety of meetings and events.

10.2. The consultation feedback has been used alongside other desktop exercises to develop this proposed strategy for the development of phase 3 children's centre.

Responses

10.3. A total of 606 responses were received from stakeholders:

_ 385 from parents and carers

_ 221 from practitioners and other partners

10.4. The resulting feedback has been summarised in the paper entitled `Sure Start Children's Centres - Phase 3 Consultation Summary' (August 2008). The summary paper, attached as Appendix C, demonstrates how the feedback gathered has directly influenced the final strategy proposal for approval, with contributions from:

_ Parents and Carers;

_ County Councillors, District and Parish Councillors;

_ Schools;

_ Hampshire Primary Care Trust;

_ Jobcentre Plus;

_ Children's Centre Leaders;

_ District Council Officers;

_ Childcare Providers;

_ Service providers for children under five and their families within the Private, Voluntary & Independent (PVI) sector; and

_ Together for Children.

Key findings

10.5. Most areas of the strategy have had general approval but the major area of feedback has focused around contributions towards influencing the redesigning of the proposed NCAs.

10.6. Of the 221 responses from practitioners and other partners, 91% felt that the strategy was clear in setting the vision for the delivery of phase 3 of the children's centre programme.

10.7. 91% of all practitioner and other partners responses felt that the strategy was either reasonable (39%) or reasonable, however... (52%). Those responses recorded under reasonable, however... meant that the response felt that the strategy was generally reasonable, but had comments or suggestions to make on specific elements. The main area of comment to this question, as highlighted above, was based around the proposed NCAs and suggested alterations.

10.8. Of the 385 responses from parents and carers:

_ 6% were from a lone parent household;

_ 97% had a member of the household in paid employment;

_ 7% had a child with a disability or additional need; and

_ 1% had an adult in the household with a disability or additional need.

10.9. The majority of responses from parents and carers were received from families who classed themselves as `White' (92% of total responses).

10.10. There were also issues raised in responses to specific aspects of the service delivery questions, which will be shared with other colleagues to assist the development of services. For example:

_ the main reason for 52% of parents and carers who stated they did not use family support services was not being aware of any services in my area. This information will be passed on to the project team around the development of the Information System for Parents and Providers (ISPP) programme and to children's centres to ensure they are marketing their services appropriately; and

_ 52% of all responses from parents and carers identified `Advice on Parenting Skills' being a useful family support service they would use. This information will be passed onto the Parenting Team.

11) Conclusions:

11.1. This report has set out the strategy for the implementation of phase 3 children's centres within Hampshire. The strategy has been structured using a mixture of Government guidance, expertise gained through delivering earlier phases of the children's centre programme and feedback gathered from local communities via a consultation exercise.

11.2. Proposed NCAs have had the largest number of comments returned and have been designed to fit as naturally as possible with local communities, taking account of the consultation feedback.

11.3. Although the approval of NCAs will start the process of implementation, all NCAs are reviewed every three years as part of the County Council's continuous cycle of quality improvement. Practical examples of delivery are examined, alongside population figures and deprivation trends, to ensure NCAs are working and reaching the local communities. If the NCA boundaries do not work in practice, or numbers become too high, then adjustments will be made accordingly.

11.4. The next NCA review period is late 2010 with any changes being implemented with effect from April 2011.

12) Summary Recommendations:

12.1. This report recommends that the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) notes the findings of the phase 3 consultation summary paper (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/phase3consultation.htm) and approves:

a) the development of 25 phase 3 children's centres and their associated NCAs;

b) the proposed delivery strategy for implementing phase 3 children's centres within Hampshire;

c) Children's Centre Services (CCS) co-ordinating an open tender process to identify organisations to manage phase 3 children's centres through a service contract; and

d) devolved responsibility to the chair of the Children's Centres Project Board, the Deputy Director of Children's Services - Education and Inclusion, for decisions regarding the specific siting of children's centre `gateway' buildings.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

COMPREHENSIVE RISK & IMPACT ASSESSMENT:

Phase 3 Delivery Strategy

Comprehensive Impact Assessment

Sustainability Score: 21

Equality and Diversity Score: 2

Crime and Disorder Score: 1

Risk Assessment

Overall Risks: Low Threat

Opportunities: Large Opportunity

Do the opportunities out weigh the risks? Yes