Decisions

On 25 June 2025, Cabinet approved the investment of £500k in 2024/25 in the development of an inclusive, community-based offer of mainstream play and leisure provision for children with additional needs and disabilities (AN&D). This supports the Council’s overall ambition that “no one is left behind”, with some children currently struggling to access everyday opportunities that their non-disabled peers might take for granted. Currently around 1,100 children each year access specialist play and leisure short breaks commissioned by SCC, but these are oversubscribed, with more than 300 children currently on waiting lists. These challenges were highlighted in feedback from SCC’s Ofsted and CQC Local Area Inspection in 2023, as follows:

“Too often, children and young people with SEND and their families do not feel valued or visible in their communities. Many children and young people are unable to access mainstream after-school and holiday clubs, and these are not routinely adapted to their needs. Children and young people on waiting lists for Short Breaks programmes wait too long to access the provision they want. Children and young people in older age groups feel there is a lack of support and suitable opportunities for them, such as safe spaces or groups outside of education.”

By investing in inclusive provision, children with lower levels of need will be enabled to access other local provision that delivers improved independence and social outcomes, whilst also mitigating pressure on the existing specialist short breaks service.

The £500k funding is being allocated through a grants process, which will fund short-term pilot initiatives to rapidly test and learn about what works in delivering inclusive services in local communities across Surrey, whilst also seeking to bring about changes that have a sustainable impact on children with additional needs and/or disabilities. These pilots could include both proposals that are focussed on direct-delivery and proposals focussed on training and development to support inclusion within mainstream provision. The learning generated will inform the development of a longer-term strategy in 2025/26 and beyond.

The types of services in scope for this funding include (but are not limited to): leisure centres; sports clubs; holiday schemes; youth clubs; and uniformed group.

The kinds of changes we are proposing to fund to support inclusion include: improvements to accessibility, lay-out and equipment (non-capital costs); staff training; tailoring of activities to meet different needs; levels of staffing; and improved range of methods of communication.

The grants process was launched on Monday 25 November 2024, with the first deadline for applications closing on 11 December 2024 (noting there are two potential further funding rounds in January 2025 to allocate remaining funding).

23 complete and compliant applications were received and these have now been evaluated in line with published guidance.

Of these 23 bids:

·         4 were assessed as not meeting the minimum quality standard;

·         17 have been assessed as meeting the minimum quality standard and are being recommended for award; and

·         2 have been assessed as meeting the minimum quality standards, but the evaluation panel is seeking to clarify details within these proposals prior to awarding.

At this stage, the total value of the 17 recommended grant awards is £232k from within the £500k budget allocated, with the applications made identifying over 3,750 beneficiaries of the grants programme. Whilst the majority of these beneficiaries are children with additional needs and/or disabilities, the training and development focused proposals recommended for award are looking to support around 480 professionals and volunteers in Surrey.

The 17 recommended awards include:

·         7 organisations delivering sport and physical activity based activities;

·         4 organisations delivering inclusive drama and theatre provision;

·         3 organisations delivering inclusion training and support for mainstream services;

·         2 organisations delivering general holiday club provision; and

·         3 organisations delivering other schemes, including virtual reality, soft play and outdoor activities.

Approving these awards leaves a total of up to £268k funding still to be allocated through the two applications already received where clarifications are being sought or subsequent evaluation windows in January, with the next deadline for applications being 8 January 2025 and the final deadline (should funding remain) being 22 January 2025 – with all awards proposed to be made by 31 January 2025.

There were none.

Apologies for absence were received from Marisa Heath.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.    Agreed that the Leader should respond to the Government as outlined in the letter set out in Annex 2, as amended below:

“A postponement of the county elections will also allow time to give consideration in any business case to how we can best manage the unique, significant financial risk of the level of debt currently held across the Surrey local government footprint. Any proposals for local government reorganisation will need to adequately consider how to ensure the sustainable operation of any new authority/ies in the absence of exceptional financial support from Government or a level of write off and we will request the government to write off those debts.”

Reasons for decisions:

The English Devolution White Paper presents an important opportunity for Surrey

County Council to bring more expansive and flexible devolved powers and funding

into the county for the benefit of residents. As such it is recommended that Cabinet

agrees to respond to the Minister’s letter (Annex 1) requesting the postponement of

the 2025 County Council elections to allow the Surrey County Council Leader time to work with district and borough Leaders to develop a proposal for local government reform that will unlock the benefits of further devolution for Surrey.

The function of deciding whether and how to respond to the Minister’s letter of 16

December 2024 is an executive function as set out in the Constitution under Responsibility for Executive Functions (Part 3), the Cabinet has the power to provide formal response to any Government White Paper “…likely to lead to policy changes

or have impact upon service not otherwise delegated to officers” (Scheme of

Delegation 8.2 (L)).

(In accordance with Standing Order 56.1 (Special Urgency), the Chairman of the Resources and Performance Select Committee has agreed that the decisions on this item cannot reasonably be deferred and therefore it is not subject to call in.)

This project is to provide a modern Alternative Provision facility on a single site to accommodate 60 secondary aged pupils in NC yrs 7-11.  This will enable the school to relocate from its two current sites.

The new facility is to be operational from January 2026.

The design is to take account of the appropriate guidance in BB104, Schools Premises Regulations 2012, and any other relevant legislation and guidance.

The building, design, and materials used will comply with all relevant Building Regulations at the time of implementation.

Decision made:

To award a PCSA for the provision of Northeast Surrey Short Stay School- Alternative Provision facility” to Reds10 for a total value of £ 815,364.00.

Decision made:

To award a contract for the provision of Pensions Administration Software to Heywood Pensions Technologies.