Presented by Lindsay Martin and Keith Hutt Service Property Priorities for CSF non-schools

Service direction - long & short term aims and objectives Keeping the child at the centre: Hertfordshire’s vision We want to support and enable all children and young people in Hertfordshire to enjoy good health, live a healthy lifestyle, and stay safe from harm and neglect. We want children and young people to grow up able to look after themselves, enjoy their life as children, and also to make a positive contribution and develop the right skills to lead a fulfilling and rewarding adult life

Service direction - long & short term aims and objectives To raise the achievement and life chances of children and young people in Hertfordshire To safeguard children and young people and reduce the need to take into care; develop integrated and preventative practice To enable children and young people to participate and engage with their learning, care, families and communities so as to realise their potential and life chances To improve the well being and life chances of children and young people within the family and community and to support families and communities As an excellent authority, ensure that all our children are in excellent properties

Service direction - long & short term aims and objectives To ensure that no buildings have to be closed for health & safety, other legislative or basic amenity reasons Develop the asset management planning process to increase the resources available to CSF, target them effectively and drive the implementation of spending programmes Prepare for the property implications of the 2006 Education Bill Ensure that agencies collaborate to deliver joined up services to maximise the impact achieved from the resources available to all agencies

Big property issues Too many properties are at or near the end of their planned life Too much permanent provision is still provided in temporary buildings Providing accommodation fit for 21st century requirements: inspirational, innovative, community friendly, flexible, adaptable, comfortable, sustainable Approximately 30 Youth Service venues are unsuitable and in poor condition (95 venues overall; 45 HCC responsibility) Delivering high quality and appropriate children’s homes and a new Family Assessment Centre Creation of 50 Children’s Centres across Hertfordshire by 2008 and 82 by 2010 – currently 6 Maintaining ‘business as usual’ during The Way We Work initiative

Big property issues Changing statutory requirements: Care Standards Act; Childcare Bill 2006; Youth Matters Schools providing extended services by 2010 including:  ‘Wraparound’ care for all children in Hertfordshire  Varied menu of activities such as study support, sport, music tuition, arts and craft or special interest clubs  Parenting support and family learning  Wider community access to ICT, sports and arts facilities, including adult learning Undertake condition and suitability surveys in 2006 as part of the 3 year cycle (detailed condition survey on Youth Service premises recently completed) Provision of high quality property guidance and data to support managers of CSF premises

State of CSF non-schools

Meeting Property Plan target 1

Broad areas of priority for action: Family Assessment Centre £ 1.75m PFI Programme for Children’s Homes £ 21.8m Service backlog of R & M £ 500k Youth service delivery improvements (640k over 2 years) £ 320k Cuffley Camp Outdoor Centre £ 680k Herts Young Mariners’ Base, Cheshunt £ 80k DfES Sure Start Grant: Children’s Centres Extended services in primary schools £ 9.6m Extended free offer for 3 and 4 year olds Watford School of Music (shared facility with WGSB, £ 2.5m 50/50 £5m funding)

Funding issues How to ensure a joined-up approach to funding between partner agencies Responding to the challenging vision for Youth Service delivery in line with and with particular reference to Every Child Matters, Youth Matters and Resourcing Excellent Youth Services

Summary & conclusions Providing better quality buildings built to agreed standards Buildings that support service integration and multi-professional working Ensuring premises decisions are integrated across agencies to maximise the use of resources Tackling the backlog of R & M and inappropriateness of accommodation Transferring the Hertfordshire Development Centre to new premises (as part of The Way We Work initiative) Managing an integrated approach to property across CSF teams and other departments within the County Council

Service Property Priorities for CSF non-schools