Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Record of Executive Decision

1) Summary:

The following decision was made :

1.1. that the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) agrees that in setting up SEN nursery provision in `Early Years SEN Hub centres' in line with the strategy agreed on 16 October 2008 which aims to provide more consistency across the county by developing new nursery provision in `Early Years SEN hub centres', only childcare providers already based in, or linked to, a Children's Centre which has indicated a willingness to be part of the initiative and which is suitably accessible from across the area it will serve, should be invited to tender for the provision of these services.

2) Reasons for the decision:

These are the reasons for this decision being made, including any links to the corporate strategy:

2.1. The principle of focussing the new SEN nursery provision in Children's Centres has already been agreed as part of the strategy because a number of other services are centred there. Children's Centres operate as `one-stop shops' and parents and carers of children placed in the SEN provision and the professionals who work with the children should have the opportunity to benefit from this.

2.2. The Children's Centre management needs to be supportive of the initiative and suitably located so that the SEN provision is easily accessible from across the whole of the area which it will serve.

2.3. In order to identify existing non-maintained childcare providers in the Havant and the New Forest areas and, subsequently in the two other areas of the county which do not currently benefit from an `Early Years SEN hub centre there will need to be tendering processes.

2.4. If there were to be a full open tendering process, any provider in the relevant geographical area could apply. To select only from providers based at, or linked to, certain Hampshire Children's Centres will need an exemption from the Council's Standing Orders on Contract to allow a limited tendering process rather than a full open tendering process.

3) Other options considered and rejected:

3.1. As the aim of the strategy is to have the new provision based in or linked to a Children's Centre there are no other recommended options.

4) Conflicts of Interest:

4.1. Conflicts of interest declared by the Decision-Maker:

a) None

4.2. Conflicts of interest declared by other Executive members consulted:

a) None

5) Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee:

None

6) Any reasons for the matter being dealt with urgently:

None

7) Statement from the Decision Maker:

.

reports\Year 2009\January 2009\12.3.09 Summary Exec Decision nursery prov (jan15r15).doc