Agenda item

RESOLVED

That the Executive noted:

a)      Progress to date in meeting the key milestones, as set out in Table 1 (section 4.7) which align with the DfE requirements and grant terms.

b)      The planed roll out of implementation of the development of Family Hubs in NNC as set out in section 5.3 of the report

c)      The allocation and breakdown of the £4mgrant funding secured for the Programme period 2022-25, and the process to date of spend and carry over for 2022/23, as set out in Table 4 (section 7.1.3) of the report

The Chair invited Cllr Jean Addison to address the meeting. Cllr Addison queried why Corby’s Pen Green facility was not being utilised as the Corby base for Family Hub service provision for those aged 5-19 years, when it already offered an excellent service for those aged between 0-5 years.

The Chair thanked Cllr Addison for her comments before inviting the Executive Member for Children, Families, Education and Skills, Cllr Scott Edwards to introduce a report that sought to provide the Executive with an annual report on the progress in relation to the implementation of the Family Hubs Programme in North Northamptonshire, as well as identifying the first two localities to develop Family Hub Networks in North Northamptonshire, a decision reached based on data, intelligence and information gathering.

Cllr Edwards noted that a previous report on the subject had been submitted to the Executive in September 2022,  detailing the award of approximately £4m of funding from Government to enable the Council to develop and operate a Family Hubs Programme alongside a variety of partner organisations and stakeholders. The programme would offer support to families with children aged 0-19 years (and up to 25 for SEND), to ensure children were given the best start in life and were are school-ready.

It was heard that following the Council’s successful application for funding, a Family Hubs Programme Board had been created and an implementation plan for the programme devised and a summary of the key milestones delivered within 2022/23 as per the delivery plan was highlighted.

Cllr Edwards reported that the first new Family Hub Network prototype would be developed in the Wellingborough locality, with the town selected based on intelligence and data gathered regarding the level of need and lack of historic development in services to support families. Simultaneously, a hub would also be developed in the Corby locality offering a 5-19 years Family Hub Network. Further hubs in Kettering and the former East Northamptonshire area would be developed in due course.

Details of the finances involved as the programme rolled out were highlighted and it was noted that the University of Northampton had been appointed as the research and evaluation partner to take the lead for active liaison with stakeholders to develop a Social Impact Evaluation framework for ongoing monitoring and reporting for benefits, outcomes and success.

The Chair spoke to welcome the report, noting that the decision for the location of the initial Family Hubs was based upon need identified as a result of data and intelligence gathering. The Chair also recognised the excellent existing provision at Pen Green for 0-5 years family support.

Cllr Helen Harrison spoke to welcome the report and the level of work that had gone into the programme to date, noting that gaps in existing family support provision had been identified with a clear outcome indicating that Wellingborough should provide the prototype family hub. Cllr Harrison stated that there was confidence the hubs would make a big difference to local areas and looked forward to the future development of additional hubs in Kettering and the former East Northamptonshire area.

Cllrs Matt Binley and Graham Lawman welcomed the report and the use of a wealth of data to formulate the decision to proceed with Wellingborough as the prototype hub, noting the importance of a positive start in life for families with young children.

Cllr Helen Howell also welcomed the report and spoke to emphasise the need for the family hubs to be accessible for all residents.

RESOLVED

That the Executive noted:

a)      Progress to date in meeting the key milestones, as set out in Table 1 (section 4.7) which align with the DfE requirements and grant terms.

b)      The planed roll out of implementation of the development of Family Hubs in NNC as set out in section 5.3 of the report

c)      The allocation and breakdown of the £4mgrant funding secured for the Programme period 2022-25, and the process to date of spend and carry over for 2022/23, as set out in Table 4 (section 7.1.3) of the report