Agenda item

1.    Mrs Chandler provided her Cabinet Member Verbal Update as follows: 

• Kent Youth County Council Elections

The elections saw a significant surge in youth engagement with a total of 22,866 young people casting their votes this year. This demonstrated a growing interest and participation in local democratic processes amongst the youth of Kent.  Further details about the Kent Youth County Council can be found on the Kent County Council website.

• Family Hub Community Practice Event

The event was held on 5 December 2025 and, along with Mrs Chandler, was attended by KCC Family Hub practitioner staff, CYPE Early Help system colleagues, Public Health colleagues, NHS Partners, representatives from the Department for Education (DfE) and representatives from the Department for Health and Social Care.  The event provided an opportunity say thank you to staff and partners for the hard work that had been done on the Family Hub transformation journey. Mrs Chandler also spoke about her visit to the Deal Family Hub on Christmas Eve, where she assisted with the distribution of hampers and had the opportunity to speak to staff and those benefiting from the service.

• Commissioned Family Hub Contracts

During the discussion at the Committee on 21 November 2024 it was set out that the current contracts ended on 31 March 2025.  Previous decisions established the service model in line with DfE guidance, the location of the Family Hubs, and the way in which grant money was to be spent. Each of these decisions combined in sequence to deliver the new operating model. The decision around the last two commissioned centres was the next step to establish a consistent operating model across the County.

The Committee requested to pause the decision while additional information was sought; to confirm details of the fourth year of grant money from the DfE; and to assess the value of the Family Hub assets in Margate.

The Infrastructure Division provided an estimated valuation of £250,000 to £450,000 for the Margate Family Hub depending on its future use, and Northdown Road had an estimated valuation of £200,000 to £400,000 depending on the future use.  The Cliftonville Hub was leased and therefore was not applicable for valuation.

The Government’s grant announcement last week still contained insufficient detail, however, it was understood that any funding would come with additional delivery requirements controlling how the money was to be used, and it would need to be spent within the next financial year.

Legal advice confirmed that the Council could not extend the contracts without incurring significant risk.  The contractual timescales would require the decision to be made very soon.

Since the previous Committee meeting, some Healthy Living Centre project funding from Public Health had been identified to allow the project to run from the Millmead Community Centre.  It was understood that this funding would support the Centre to continue to operate.  Mrs Chandler also agreed that existing budgets could be used to rent space at each centre for outreach support.

2.    Further to questions and comments from Members, it was noted that:

• The Millmead Community Centre was highly valued by the local community and should offer good value for money because it was used more than any other centre in the area.
• It was good that there was a funding stream that could be used to keep the Millmead Community Centre open. 
• The decision (24/00093) did not cover the disposal of buildings, it was about the contracts for delivery of services for a limited number of hours within the Centres. 
• Public Health recognised that the Millmead Community Centre could be a suitable venue for the Healthy Living Centre Project which should provide sustainable future for the Centre.

3.    Mr Love provided his Cabinet Member Verbal Update as follows:

• Urgent decision – Non-Maintained Independent Special Schools

Mr Love advised that, due to timetabling restrictions, he intended to take an urgent decision to extend the dynamic purchasing system for one year.  The existing contract was let in 2022 and had performed well.  A new contract was expected from September 2026.  The decision paperwork was expected to be available towards the end of the January.

• Christmas Card Competition

The winning design, that was used on Mr Love’s Christmas cards, was created by Sophie, a year five pupil from Minster Primary School in Sheppey.  She was also the Arts Ambassador in her school’s Minster Parliament.  The card also featured the designs of two runners-up on the back, and the names of all the schools who participated.  There were 114 entries, and they were of such a high standard that a second Runner Up and a Highly Commended category were introduced.  Pupils in all these categories received a certificate, and it was hoped that this recognition would provide encouragement to all pupils to continue to practice and develop their art skills.

• Visit to Seabrook School

Mr Love visited Seabrook Church of England Primary School on 17 December.  He met with the Executive Head Teacher, one of the Heads of School and other staff and governors.  He was pleased to tour the sensual and spiritual gardens that received some funding through Mr Love’s Members Grant.

• Transformation of the Special Educational Needs Services

The transformation had continued and there were a number of reports on the agenda that would take the process forward.  There would be a meeting with the DfE and NHS England at the end of January to review the impact of the improvements that have been made to the service. 

4) RESOLVED to note the verbal updates.