Further to Minute No. 93, 18th November 2015, the Director of Children’s Services, the Director of Adult Social Services and the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a joint report which presented proposals regarding investment in Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) provision. The report outlined key statutory duties, the national policy framework, together with the costs and benefits of the main options being considered. In addition, the report provided details of the proposed construction programme and sought approval of the relevant injections into the capital programme and related authority to spend.
Members welcomed the investment which was proposed and the fact that such proposals would enable children and young people to remain in the city, rather than having to travel outside of Leeds to receive such provision.
Responding to an enquiry, the Board received assurances around the priority which was being given to ensuring that the proposals would meet the bespoke needs of service users.
In commenting upon the report, Councillor Golton drew the Board’s attention to his role as a school governor, and given the issues that he had experienced with partners delivering a construction programme as part of that role, he sought assurances around ensuring the high quality of the design, together with the monitoring of associated costs. In response, officers provided the Board with the relevant assurances on such matters.
RESOLVED –
(a) That the case for change to SEMH provision, as detailed within the submitted report, be endorsed;
(b) That the injection of £16,469.2k of Departmental Borrowing into the Capital Programme be approved;
(c) That the injection of £12,212k of Leeds City Council Borrowing into the Capital Programme be approved;
(d) That the principle of ring-fencing capital receipts from the sale of Elmete Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties (BESD) Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre (SILC), Burley Park Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) and the Meanwood Centre be agreed, subject to a dispensation being granted by the Department for Education for the use of any such receipts;
(e) That the authority to spend £45m be approved, subject to individual Design and Cost Reports being brought forward at appropriate design freeze stages for approval by the Learning Places Programme Board;
(f) That it be noted that the Deputy Director for Children’s Services is responsible for the oversight of this programme.