Agenda item

Cabinet is requested to authorise approval to receive associated funding from the Department for Education and Department and Department of Health and Social Care, to deliver Year 4 of the Family Hub and Start for Life Programme.

The Cabinet considered a report of the director of Education, Skills and Early Years that was seeking approval to receive associated funding from the Department for Education (DfE) and Department of Health and Social Care (DH&SC) to deliver Year 4 of the Family Hub and Start for Life Programme.

Approval was also sought to delegate authority to agree all spending decisions related to the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme to the Directors of Education, Skills and Early Years and Public Health after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and noting the role of the Family Hub Board.

On 20^th December 2024, Oldham Council had received notification of its provisional funding allocation of £1,381.400 for the 2025/26 fiscal year to continue delivery of the Family Hub and Start for Life Programme. Payment of the 2025/6 funding allocations was subject to: firstly, meeting the current programme expectations up to March 2025; and secondly to signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalise the Council’s agreement to the programme’s expectations for the 2025/26 fiscal year.

Options/alternatives considered:

Option 1: To approve the recommendations set out in the report; to approve the receipt of Family Hubs and Start for Life funding for the 2025/26 financial year. This would enable the continued delivery of the programme which provides more integrated and accessible services to parents and carers. This is crucial to the delivery of Oldham’s early intervention and prevention offer, ultimately contributing to a reduction in inequalities in health and education outcomes for babies, children and families. This Option facilitates the approval that authority to make all spending decisions relating to Family Hubs and the Start for Life Programme (including key decisions) be delegated to the Director of Education, Skills and Early Years and the Director of Public Health, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People. This Option enables authority to be delegated to the Director of Education, Skills and Early Years and the Director of Public Health to award contracts stemming from a compliant procurement process and that authority be delegated to the Interim Borough Solicitor to carry out all necessary legal formalities. The services are fully funded through the Department for Education grant. This option poses no financial risk to Oldham Borough Council.  

Option 2: To do nothing. This would result in the loss of the Family Hub and Start for Life Programme funding. This would pose a significant reputational risk to Oldham Council as it will no longer be able to deliver its Family Hub and Start for Life programme to families. Without funding, these crucial and highly valued early family support services to families will end on the 31^st March 2025. This could potentially lead to an escalation of need in families and referrals to specialist and more costly services.

Preferred Option - Option 1 is the preferred option.

Resolved:

1.    That the report be noted, and that approval is given to accept the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme funding from Government.

2.    That the Cabinet approves authority to make all spending decisions relating to Family Hubs and the Start for Life Programme (including key decisions) be delegated to the Directors of Education, Skills and Early Years and Public Health, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Directors of Education, Skills and Early Years and Public Health to award contracts stemming from a compliant procurement process and authority be delegated to the Interim Borough Solicitor to carry out all necessary legal formalities.