Decision details

(Councillors Biederman, Connett, Hannan, Julian, Randall Johnson and Westlake attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet noted that, in accordance with the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the requisite number of Members of the Council (Cllrs Hannan, Westlake, Hannaford, Hill and Owen) had invoked the call-in procedure in relation to the decision of the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Services (Decision Notice and accompanying documentation attached) on the proposed closure of Compass House Crèche on the grounds that the decision ‘fails to take sufficient account of the fact that women suffering from post-natal depression are routinely in need of on-site care for their children, as is available at Chestnut Children’s Centre where Depression and Anxiety Service sessions are run alongside childcare provision.  The existence of this arrangement other than at Compass House is actually denied in the Impact Assessment’. 

The People’s Scrutiny Committee had considered the ‘call-in’ at its meeting on 5 September 2016 (Minute *13) and had resolved that ’the Cabinet be recommended to retain the Crèche for the present and that the Devon Partnership Trust be asked (i) to look at the possibility of it providing those therapy and counselling services (currently provided at Compass House) in premises elsewhere in the City of Exeter which had an Ofsted Registered Crèche and (ii) report back [to Cabinet] within a period of 3 months’.

The Cabinet was required to reconsider the matter in the light of the Scrutiny Committee’s views and could either amend or adopt the Cabinet Member’s decision, which would then be implemented with immediate effect.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor Barker, and

RESOLVED thatthe suggestion of the Scrutiny Committee be noted and a further  Report be made to the next meeting of the Cabinet and the Cabinet Members decision be therefore not now actioned.

[NB The Cabinet Member's Decision Notice and accompanying documentation was circulated previously with the People’s Scrutiny Committee Agenda and is available at: http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CId=134&Year=0].