Agenda item

Despite making significant savings in previous years, the County Council needs to make further savings of £85m in the next year.  To achieve this and continue to provide services to residents some changes will need to be made.  On 30 October 2018, the County Council launched a series of consultations on five service areas to shape those services for the future: children’s centres; concessionary bus fares; special educational needs and disability (SEND); libraries and cultural services; and community recycling centres.

The Local Committee is invited to consider and discuss the proposed service changes as they relate to the Elmbridge local area.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Mary Burguieres, Continuous Improvement & Change Strategic Lead; Nigel Denning, Interim Consultant - Early Help

Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: None

Member discussion –key points

Noted in relation to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) that outcomes are currently not good enough and there is a need to improve services as well as meeting increasing demand.  The consultation is focussed on a strategy providing changes to early help, better provision of services in the right pace and improved partnership working.  There will be further consultation on its implementation which will be co-designed.  It is hoped that a restructured service will provide more capacity for staff to attend reviews and get to know families.  It was noted that there are no additional savings being proposed in SEND and Children’s services, the consultation is about improving an inadequate service.  The commissioner is supportive of a new model to allow resources to be targeted at the most vulnerable.  Surrey has fewer SEND children in mainstream schools that neighbouring authorities, but they need better support.

Noted that the consultation on libraries and cultural services is looking at the future function of these services and on the provision of a 24/7 modern digitally enhanced service with volunteering opportunities.  2500 responses have so far been received. In recent years there has been a decrease in both footfall and loans. Members commented that many of the smaller libraries are freehold and comparatively cheaper to run than large town centre libraries which are often leased.  Whilst people are supportive of volunteers working in libraries, it was felt to be important to continue to have permanent paid staff.  There will be a further consultation if there are specific proposals to close libraries, but in the meantime officers are happy to provide members with costs and usage figures.  They would also welcome suggestions from members on how existing libraries could be better used.

The current Children Centre offer does not necessarily meet the needs of vulnerable children.  There is a need to intervene earlier and resources need to be targeted at those in greatest need and not in providing a universal offer.  There will be at least one centre in each Borough in the area of greatest need and services will be provided by outreach and satellite centres as many of those most in need don’t currently visit centres.  Work is ongoing to look at what the existing children’s centre buildings could be used for.  Those associated with schools could be used for nurseries or could be used by voluntary associations or partners.

Members were concerned at the increased cost for parents in trying to access alternative centres, particularly for those trying to use limited public transport services.  Officers responded that it was not intended that those in need would have to travel to access services, which if required would be provided by outreach or at a local venue.  Members also commented, that whilst some of those currently accessing Children’s Centres may not all be those in high need, the centres do support those who are just about managing and who could become high need if the centres are removed.

There was concern on the cumulative impact on communities of potentially closing Children’s Centres and libraries particularly in village locations.  However there was agreement that library buildings had potential for better use

Members felt that the proposal to remove the free companion bus pass for disabled people could impact on carers, who are already on a low income and could make it more difficult to access services and appointments and the cost of this would be relatively small compared to the potential impact on this vulnerable group of people.

National figures indicate that the level of fly-tipping is increasing and a further reduction in the opening times and locations of community recycling centres can only make this worse.

It was agreed that a summary of the Committees comments should be submitted to the review team to inform the deliberations of the Cabinet on the outcomes of the consultations.