Agenda item

1.  That the Company’s articles of association be approved, to make it wholly owned by the Council, including agreeing a change in its name to Slough Children First Limited, and to the reserved matters set out in paragraph 6.4 of the report;

2.  That it be agreed that the targeted Early Help and Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) services functions being transferred to the Company with a proposed start date of no later than 1 July 2021;

3.  That the Council enter  into the Governance Side Agreement with the DfE setting out details of the consent and consultation rights exercisable by the Secretary of State whilst specified functions are subject to statutory intervention;

4.  That the Council enter into a five year (extendable by two years) service delivery contract with the Company with a proposed start date of 1 April 2021;

5.  That the Council enter into formal support services arrangements by 1 September 2021;

6.  That it be agreed to write off £2.4m of the accumulated Children’s Services Trust Company deficit incurred in the initial years of the contract for providing services to Children, with the remainder covered by DfE grant as assumed in the Council’s 2021/22 – 2023/24 Medium Term Financial Strategy and the MHCLG Capitalisation Directive;

7.  That a loan be approved from the Council to Slough Children First Ltd of £5m to provide the company with working capital, to be repaid within 30 days of the final payment to the Company in relation to the contract;

8.  That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation with the Executive Director of People (Children) and the Leader to:

a.finalise the details and commencement date of the service delivery contract and other associated documents, including licences and leases for property, and to implement the arrangements;

b.grant licences for the Company to use Council property as required from 1 April 2021;

c.finalise the terms of the loan agreement.

9.  That delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, to:

a.agree the final scope of services to transfer to the Company by 1 July 2021 and to agree any further services to transfer to the Company, subject to this not involving the transfer of more than 20 additional staff;

b.make decisions on reserved matters as the Council’s member representation, including agreeing the adoption of the final agreed version of the Articles of Association;

c.finalise the details of the Governance Side Agreement.

The Lead Member for Children & Schools and the Interim Executive Director of People (Children) introduced a report that sought agreement for the proposed future delivery model for Slough children’s services.

It was proposed to change the governance arrangements for Slough Children’s Services Trust to make it wholly owned by Slough Borough Council and to transfer additional services to the organisation in order to aid service coherence.  The Cabinet noted the financial, legal and operational issues as set out in the report.  The total contract value was still to be finalised but would be circa £35m in 2021/22 which included the additional services proposed to be transferred which were the targeted Early Help and Not in Employment Education or Training services.  The recommendations included approving the governance arrangements and change of name to Slough Children First Limited; entering into a five year service delivery contract with the company to begin on 1^st April 2021, with an option to extend by two years; and sought to resolve the Trust deficit issues and approve a loan from the Council to Slough Children First of £5m to provide working capital.

Lead Members recognised that this was a significant move forward with the aim of continuing to improve children’s services in Slough.  The new arrangements would strengthen the relationship with the Council with the aim to improve the resilience and flexibility of the services; financial benefits and efficiencies; improved safeguarding and service delivery leading to better outcomes for children and families.

At the conclusion of the discussion the recommendations were reviewed and agreed.

Resolved –

(a)  That the Company’s articles of association be approved, to make it wholly owned by the Council, including agreeing a change in its name to Slough Children First Limited, and to the reserved matters set out in paragraph 6.4 of the report;

(b)  That it be agreed that the targeted Early Help and Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) services functions being transferred to the Company with a proposed start date of no later than 1 July 2021;

(c)  That the Council enter  into the Governance Side Agreement with the DfE setting out details of the consent and consultation rights exercisable by the Secretary of State whilst specified functions are subject to statutory intervention;

(d)  That the Council enter into a five year (extendable by two years) service delivery contract with the Company with a proposed start date of 1 April 2021;

(e)  That the Council enter into formal support services arrangements by 1 September 2021;

(f)  That it be agreed to write off £2.4m of the accumulated Children’s Services Trust Company deficit incurred in the initial years of the contract for providing services to Children, with the remainder covered by DfE grant as assumed in the Council’s 2021/22 – 2023/24 Medium Term Financial Strategy and the MHCLG Capitalisation Directive;

(g)  That a loan be approved from the Council to Slough Children First Ltd of £5m to provide the company with working capital, to be repaid within 30 days of the final payment to the Company in relation to the contract;

(h)  That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director of Corporate Resources, in consultation with the Executive Director of People (Children) and the Leader to:

  i.  finalise the details and commencement date of the service delivery contract and other associated documents, including licences and leases for property, and to implement the arrangements;

  ii.  grant licences for the Company to use Council property as required from 1 April 2021;

  iii.  finalise the terms of the loan agreement.

(i)  That delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, to:

  i.  agree the final scope of services to transfer to the Company by 1 July 2021 and to agree any further services to transfer to the Company, subject to this not involving the transfer of more than 20 additional staff;

  ii.  make decisions on reserved matters as the Council’s member representation, including agreeing the adoption of the final agreed version of the Articles of Association;

  iii.  finalise the details of the Governance Side Agreement.