Decisions

On 11 December 2018 Kirklees Cabinet approved that Kirklees will follow the (LGA) Guiding Principles used by the Yorkshire and North East Regions for setting term dates for community, voluntary controlled and community special schools to try to achieve a coordinated approach with neighbouring local authorities and that approval for setting term dates each academic will be delegated to the Service Director, Learning and Early Support following engagement with the Education and Learning Partnership Board.

Setting Year 6 transition dates is not an LA statutory duty and schools of all types are not bound by these dates, however, it has previously been reported that the majority of schools welcome support with co-ordination of this.  It was confirmed that setting Year 6 transition dates would sit alongside setting term dates.

To be published by 30 April 2024 to take effect from 1 September 2025. 

To approve the 2025/26 Term Dates and 2026 Year 6 Transition date.

To consider the overall scheme budget for Howley Walk, Batley to be increased to £2,460,212 and a JCT (2016) D&B contract for the sum of £882,984.10 to be let to Ellison Construction Limited.

Officers have kept the Secretary of the Tenants & Residents Association informed of progress regarding completion of the building work and have responded to issues as they are raised.  Officers met with the Chair and Secretary of the Tenants & Residents Association in July 2023 to explain why the construction work had not yet been completed.  Following this meeting a letter was sent to members, residents in Howley Walk and those adjacent to the site to reassure them that the Council did not intend to abandon the development. A further email update was provided to the Chair and Secretary on 11 March.

Consultation was carried out with residents and members prior to the original scheme being approved in 2020.  No further consultation has been undertaken as proposals have not changed. 

To increase the overall scheme budget for Howley Walk, Batley to £2,460,212 and a JCT (2016) D&B contract for the sum of £882,984.10 to be let to Ellison Construction Limited.

Award of grant funding for the continuation of activity by Kirklees Care Association (KirCA).

KirCA is a non profit making organisation representing adult social care providers in Kirklees by way of membership of the Association. Formalised in 2022 KirCA is the only organisation of its type operating in Kirklees.

Between January 2022 and March 2024 Grant funding was provided by Kirklees Council and Kirklees Health and Care Partnership\ICB. This funding supported the formalisation of the KirCA organisational structure and its initial 2 years of its operations in recognition that a strong local service provider voice and partner is needed to deliver improvements across the care sector. KirCA enables direct access to the views and voices of CQC regulated services in the Kirklees area through one organisation to support development and transformational activity of the Kirklees adult social care market.

Funding arrangements to the value of £85,000.00 for the 2024/25 financial year have been approved by way of delegated decision from the Council funded jointly by the Council and Kirklees Health and Care Partnership.

Grant funding to the total value to £85,000.00 for 2024/25 will be paid via 2 payments (April and October)

The purpose of this report is to seek approval for capital expenditure to procure up to 10 new vehicles and establish a pilot Council operated fleet of vehicles providing home to school transport for children with SEND needs.

Councillor Turner noted the report outlining the business case for operating a pilot for in-house fleet for home to school transport.

The Cabinet Member for Finance supports –

·       Investment of circa £750,000 to procure 10 new vehicles for the in-house fleet pilot is included in budget proposals presented to Cabinet and Council in the Council Financial & Rollover Report 2023/24.

·       Bringing other currently underutilised minibuses from the Councils existing fleet under the control of the home to school transport service.

The operation of the fleet of home to school minibuses from underutilised assets (premises) the exact locations to be determined based suitability and need.

That the current catering service is withdrawn based on evidence that:

·     There is a low usage of the Bistro Services in its current format.

·     There are a significant number of tenants already receiving meal provision support within their care package.

·     An activity programme exists already within the Care Provider contract to support tenants to reduce their social isolation and maintain wellbeing.

·     Amendments can be made quickly to the existing activity programme to incorporate food-based activity and opportunity.

·     Additional food-based or other activity will continue to be explored as a longer-term provision.

Written submissions are received from tenants and members of the public via dedicated engagement questions plus broader concerns and constructive feedback also received alongside.  Verbal updates received during in-person tenant engagement.

All representations were logged and fed into the decision-making process.  The main concerns related to individuals with care and support needs and a potential increase in social isolation for all tenants.  Any decisions were paused until further exploration of alternative provision in the short-term could be undertaken which is now satisfied. Further exploration will also continue over the longer term as an ongoing action to enhance activities on site which are either food-based and/or provide alleviation from social isolation.  Additionally, care package reviews/assessments will be undertaken as required and with the consent of tenants.

That the current catering service is withdrawn.

Detached youth work provision delivered by the Council, following previous service reviews has seen a shift in focus to enabling partnership delivery and trying to ensure strategic coordination. A detached youth work team was established in 2018 as part of the wider youth development programme and investment into Early Support.

This decision will enable the Council delivery to align to the Youth Development Partnership’s strategic approach to youth work and provision in Kirklees, building on partnership strengths and alignment to priorities in Kirklees.

The Strategic Director for Children’s Services and Strategic Director for Adults are in joint agreement to transfer the Early Support Detached Youth Work Team from the Children’s Directorate to the Adults & Health Directorate, Communities & Access Service.

This decision will enable the service to make the required budgetary savings and retain a LA youth work function. The reduced provision will form part of a wider offer in the Communities & Access Service, supporting a youth community response.

Agreed decision to transfer the Detached Youth Work Team to the Communities & Access Service to form part of a wider offer around youth violence and in line with budget proposals presented to Cabinet and full Council in March 2024 to revise the allocated budget to £150k.

In 2022-23 the White Rose Forest (WRF) was given the opportunity to access funding from a global reforestation foundation called One Tree Planted (OTP), for its 2022-23 woodland planting schemes. The eligibility for this funding was based on photographic evidence of trees the WRF had planted in the 2022-23 planting season.  Evidence for 441,947 trees was submitted and has now been verified by the lead organisation - the accountable body working with OTP.

The donation the WRF expect to receive will be a minimum of £154,681 but could be up to a maximum of £353,100. The final figure is yet to be confirmed.

The funds are expected to be paid in instalments to Kirklees Council in the next 8 months.

Decision to take effect from – February 2024

A decision has been taken to accept funding from the One Tree Planted (OTP) Foundation which is an American based non-profit, public charity donor, whose mission is to help with global reforestation. 

The White Rose Forest (part of Kirklees’ Major Projects Team) is one of England’s Community Forests which has an agreement in place with OTP. This agreement enables Kirklees Council to receive donations from OTP for North and West Yorkshire trees planting schemes supported with grant funding from the WRF (in 2022-23).

The OTP donation will be used to support the revenue cost (staff costs) of monitoring the new woodland across future years. The woodlands need to be monitored for 15 years following planting.