Agenda item

RESOLVED

That the Executive:

i)      Noted the work undertaken by the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group as instructed by the Finance and Resources Scrutiny Committee.

ii)     Discussed and provided feedback on the “Maintained Nursery Funding Review” report attached at Appendix A to the report.

iii)   Noted the recommendations and comments in the report.

The Chair, Cllr Jason Smithers invited Cllr John McGhee to address the Executive. Cllr McGhee noted the recommendation of the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group that officers should continue to work with Pen Green Nursery to support them in managing their funding gap moving forward by identifying internal and external funding sources. Cllr McGhee queried what meetings had taken place to date in this regard.

The Chair then invited Cllr Dorothy Maxwell to address the Executive. Cllr Maxwell noted that Pen Green was in receipt of greater funding levels from the Council than the other three maintained nurseries in North Northamptonshire and stated that all the maintained nurseries should be treated equally. It was heard that all children should receive access to good early years provision, and Cllr Maxwell hoped that such provision could be extended to other towns in the Council area, with specific reference made to Rushden.

The Chair then invited the Chair of the Finance and Resources Scrutiny Committee (F&RSC), Cllr Mark Pengelly to present the report of the Maintained Nursery Funding Review along with feedback from the Finance and Resources Committee.

Cllr Pengelly thanks all those elected members and officers that had been involved in the review process which had seen significant work undertaken including in-person visits to all four maintained nursery sites and meetings held with governors, head teachers, officers and the Schools Forum. As well as the above, a full audit report for all the nurseries had provided the Scrutiny Task and Finish group with the information required to form a view regarding the funding of maintained nurseries.

It was heard that both the Finance and Resources Scrutiny Committee and the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group supported the Executive’s decision for 2022/23 to adopt a participation-based rate of funding for the Maintained Nurseries Supplement of the Dedicated Schools Grant. However, it was noted that a decision for future years was to be made by the Executive.

The Chair thanked Cllr Pengelly and those involved in the review, noting the challenging nature of the task and the level of work involved. Cllr Smithers stated that he was reassured that the conclusion was to support the Executive’s recommendation in regard to funding.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Commission, Cllr Wendy Brackenbury spoke to thank the Finance and Resources Scrutiny Committee and those who had supported the review for a positive piece of scrutiny work, with the final recommendations being fair for families across North Northamptonshire and ensuring the ongoing sustainability of all four nurseries.

Cllr Scott Edwards, Executive Member for Children, Education and Skills thanked the members of the Task and Finish Group for their work and their support of the Executive recommendations to ensure an open and transparent way of funding all four maintained nurseries. In response to Cllr McGhee, Cllr Edwards stated that a full list of meetings with Pen Green could be provided. In response to Cllr Maxwell’s comment regarding equal funding, it was noted that grants were based on participation levels and as such Pen Green received additional funding to the other three nurseries.  

RESOLVED

That the Executive:

i)      Noted the work undertaken by the Scrutiny Task and Finish Group as instructed by the Finance and Resources Scrutiny Committee.

ii)     Discussed and provided feedback on the “Maintained Nursery Funding Review” report attached at Appendix A to the report.

iii)   Noted the recommendations and comments in the report.