Decisions

The primary purpose of the Community Investment Programme is to support local Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector and Social Enterprises to enhance and or develop a range of flexible creative service activities in Doncaster.

The Council, through the Community Investment Programme, have an opportunity to reinforce its community leadership role in the investment of grant funding, to develop further the capacity and skills of the sector, and strengthen frontline community groups/organisations to deliver value for money services/activities, and provide a platform for the delivery of projects that strengthen and support communities.

To agree the funding allocation of £131,069.
The breakdown of spend to successful providers is as follows:-
Revenue:-

1). Open Minds Counselling - £6,698 - to fund a programme of behaviour change and stress management, to tackle loneliness and social isolation and take an early intervention prevention approach.


2). Artistic Spectrum - £15,600 - Creative activities for young people transitioning from childhood to adult services, in order to tackle loneliness and social isolation and promote social connectedness.


3). Austerfield Study Centre £19,992 -To run a weekly programme of food and outdoor activities, in order to address loneliness and social isolation and promote well-being.


4). Edlington Community Organisation - £11,000 to engage more people who may experience loneliness and social isolation.

5). Balby Community Arts (BCA) – £19,820 To carry out a programme of creative workshops that connect people into their community.


6). Higher Rhythm Ltd/Sine FM Community Radio Station £13,888 – The creation of 85 new bite-size/flexible volunteering opportunities. To address loneliness and social isolation.


7).Doncaster Alcohol Service – £13,031 -Sober Social – After Dark - An extension of Sober Social which will tackle loneliness and social isolation.

8). Aspiring2 CIC – £10,440 - Healthy Futures- Pop Up interactive roadshow – primarily address loneliness and social isolation and promote local community based support activities.


9). Green Heart Man - £11,100 – From The Ground Up – will deliver 10 fortnightly workshops over 20 weeks to 18-20 men to learn to share and grow. This project will primarily tackle loneliness and social isolation.

10). Holmescarr Ark and Crafts Ltd - £9,500 – Community Connector project to primarily address loneliness and social isolation.

Background:
The Adults Health and Wellbeing Service (AHWb) face a number of challenges in the current economic climate arising from demand due to an aging population, fragmented services and an increased cost of delivering health and social care. As our local Place Plan documents we have a compelling vision where ‘care and support will be tailored to community strengths to help Doncaster residents to maximise their independence, health and wellbeing’. Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care recently stated in his speech about his vision for technology in the NHS:
“…We need technology that makes life easier for hard-working and often over-stretched staff. We need technology that can run basic tasks and processes more efficiently. This will save…money and free up staff time – money and time that can be better used to provide great care…”
This funding is being requested to ensure Adult Social Care (ASC) and Support achieves both their service objectives as well as delivery of the AHWb Transformation plan in relation to the implementation of the MOSAIC case management system. Backfill arrangements for the Subject Matter Expert (SME) and funding four trainers are now required to ensure AHWb service are
actively engaged in data migration, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), sign off of processes as well as providing an effective link between the programme team, as they have extensive working knowledge of current systems and practice.
The AHWb service have already allocated and delivered resources to the programme so far, including identifying 25 super users who will work with the programme in the run up to and post go live of the system, with no backfill arrangements in place thus delivering resources “in kind.” Although this commitment has not been quantified, its value in terms of time and resource committed is substantial and demonstrates the AHWb’s commitment and willingness to actively engage in the development and implementation of an effective case management system.
Current situation:
We are now in the implementation stage of the case management system. Our approach to implementation has been revised and a decision was made by the DIPs Sponsoring Board to
implement the Best Practice Configuration (BPC). This is the solution as purchased which meets all statutory and regulatory requirements. It is acknowledged that BPC may not include the requirements for all services to support improved ways of working. The priority criteria for managing changes needed as agreed by the Sponsoring Board are:
• Replace functionality currently in core legacy systems
• Replace functionality that is partially in core legacy systems and partly outside
The criteria is based upon an understanding that the timescales to implementation are extremely ambitious. Longer term (post go-live) there will be a full programme of work to implement additional functionality/changes that are not achievable for the current go-live dates. This approach will:
• Enable the business areas to move onto the system quicker as implementation time is reduced due to minimum changes.
• Provide an opportunity to start using the system ensuring changes are needed.
In order to have a consistent approach to change management and implementation, it has become apparent there is a significant resource expectation from the AHWb service, at a point when service demand levels remain high and the service is expected to deliver efficiencies and achieve significant savings targets.
Having worked closely with the programme team, the resources needed to ensure the service is actively engaged in the implementation of the system is a combination of subject matter expert, technical, training, testing, migration and reporting expertise which will be drawn from relatively small teams with high workload. The majority of this requirement will be met “in kind” with no backfill arrangements to be made. However, there are key roles where the expectation is that individual officers will play a critical function in the implementation phase, and where more formal arrangements will need to be in place to cover their business as usual activity.
Having worked closely with the DIP’s programme team this decision has been taken to ensure the service is actively engaged in the implementation of the system is a combination of subject matter expert, technical, training, testing, migration and reporting expertise which will be drawn from relatively small teams with high workload. The majority of this requirement will be met “in kind” with no backfill arrangements to be made. However, there are 5 key roles where the expectation those individual officers will play a critical role in the implementation phase, and where more formal arrangements will need to be in place to cover their business as usual activity.
These are:
Subject Matter Expert
1 FTE commitment for 12 months
Backfill costs £29,498 per annum (Grade 7 – Top of scale)
Technical, testing and training leads.
2 FTE commitment for 10 months to cover testing, training and development of Standard Operating Procedures
Backfill costs £24,581 x 2 = £49,163 (Grade 7 – Top of scale)
Recruitment of 2 external trainers for 45 days @ £475 per day equals £42,750
Total costs: £121,411 (This excludes the additional “in kind” commitment costs, estimated to be £224K).
In addition to this resource commitment, AHWb has already allocated an additional 450 officer hours to the current BPC workshops, although this figure excludes the finance workshops, so the actual commitment is higher.
Whilst it is anticipated levels of activity will taper as we approach the MOSAIC Go-Live, the current systems will need to be supported up to this point as they deliver statutory services that will require business continuity throughout. No backfill arrangements will severely limit our ability to support current systems and ensure that, at the point of Go-Live, there is no disruption to services.

To backfill posts within the Adults Health and Wellbeing Directorate to support the implementation of the MOSAIC case management system. The backfill costs will include the recruitment of 3 Community Care Officer posts and 2 external trainers. The total cost in 2019/20 will be £121k.

The OA Partnership Board has approved the grants and tenders to the amounts set out in the attached Officer Decision Record.

The services have been approved as they align with the ambitions set out in the Doncaster Opportunity Area delivery plan and the decision to go to market has been taken to ensure the VfM and quality of the procured services, and to test the market.

The school improvement funding will enable intensive support and additional capacity for all 19 secondary schools in the borough.

To award:-

£90k to Evolve Education to deliver their health mentors programme
£400k to secondary schools on school improvement and associated evaluation
£70k to schools for post-16 provision improvements
up to £80k to the Education Alliance for the leadership and management of the secondary school peer review process (funding will depend on number of schools engaged).
up to £315k paid for school improvement activity through funding allocated to schools for bespoke activity

To go out to tender for services set out below:-

£110k on commissioned school improvement initiatives and oversight
£40k on expert consultancy support for post-16 provision, following on from the LA's post-16 review.

To comply with the Secretary of State's Academy Order of 24 May 2019.

Further to the academy order of the Regional Schools Commissioner issued on 24 May 2019, the Council is now required to execute all formal documentation necessary to complete the conversion to academy status.

This decision record approves the appropriate instruction to the Council's Legal section to complete and seal the appropriate documentation in order for Lakeside Primary School to convert to academy status on 1 November 2019 as a converter academy. It is proposed that Lakeside Primary School will join a Multi Academy Trust - XP Academy Trust.

To comply with the Secretary of State's Academy Order of 24 May 2019.

Further to the academy order of the Regional Schools Commissioner issued on 24 May 2019, the Council is now required to execute all formal documentation necessary to complete the conversion to academy status.

This decision record approves the appropriate instruction to the Council's Legal section to complete and seal the appropriate documentation in order for Plover Primary School to convert to academy status on 1 November 2019 as a converter academy. It is proposed that Plover Primary School will join a Multi Academy Trust - XP Academy Trust.

This follows on from the 2017/18 and 2018/19 Schools Roofing Programme, issues that have become a priority since the original programme was established. This phase of the programme will cover the same building elements as the initial programmes replacing or repair roofs that have become a persistent target for patch repairs. The work is identified through the annual building surveys and a review of any data that has been collected through call outs or emergency repairs , as well as comments from regulatory inspections (OFSTED and Safeguarding). By delivering the programme DMBC will ensure the school buildings remain open and ensure pupil places are not at risk due to condition issues within the premises. The work will also ensure that work to electrical and mechanical infrastructure as well as the general fabric of the building is protected.
The original consultation undertaken was:
The CYPS Capital Monitoring Group has been consulted regarding this proposal. This group includes officers representing service areas with responsibility for various CYPS capital assets, Technical Services and Corporate Services and Corporate Resources.
Schools Forum has been consulted. Further updates will be provided as the programme progresses.
Individual schools will be consulted on the proposed programme of works before the final programme is agreed. This will ensure that no urgent items are missed. It is also intended that there will be sufficient flexibility within the programme to incorporate missed or unknown issues that arise during the programme.
Drawing the funding is sought to allow the delivery of these projects.

Following Cabinet approval on 12th February 2019 and full Council approval on 4th March of £241,785 funding for the School Roofing Programme, which will ensure schools are warm, weather tight, safe and not at risk of closure at short notice, approve the draw down of these funds for the delivery of the 20219/20 programme.

This follows on from the 2011/12, 12/13, 13/14, 14/15, 15/16, 16/17, 17/18 and 18/19 Schools Capital Condition Programme, addressing maintenance issues that have become a priority since the original programme was established. This phase of the programme will cover the same building elements as the initial programmes, i.e. mechanical (heating and ventilation), electrical (lighting and Mains upgrades) and building fabric improvements (windows) etc. The work is identified through the annual building surveys and a review of any data that has been collected through call outs or emergency repairs, as well as comments from regulatory inspections (OFSTED and Safeguarding). By delivering the programme DMBC will ensure the school buildings remain open and ensure pupil places are not at risk due to condition issues within the premises. The lighting, mechanical and mains upgrades will ensure the Authority meet all its statutory requirements as set out in the condition reports held by the Authority.

The original consultation undertaken was:

The CYPS Capital Monitoring Group has been consulted regarding this proposal. This group includes officers representing service areas with responsibility for various CYPS capital assets, Technical Services and Corporate Resources.

Schools Forum has been consulted. Further updates will be provided as the programme progresses.

Individual schools will be consulted on the proposed programme of works before the final programme is agreed. This will ensure that no urgent items are missed. It is also intended that there will be sufficient flexibility within the programme to incorporate missed or unknown issues that arise during the programme.

Drawing the funding is sought to allow the delivery of these projects.

Following Cabinet approval on 12th February 2019 and full Council approval on 4th March 2019, of £1.058m funding for the Capital Condition Programme, which will ensure schools are warm, weather tight, safe and not at risk of closure at short notice, approve the draw down of these funds for the delivery of the 2019/20 programme as per the schemes detailed on Appendix A.

The aim is to provide excellent facilities which in turn will support the building continue to develop and offer a wider range of opportunities for all people to participate in daily exercise/activity, social action and living a much healthier lifestyle.

1. To approve the allocation of £37,232 of Section 106 monies for enhancement of public space at The Ruddle Centre, Braithwell as a Grant to Braithwell with Micklebring Recreation and Leisure Association (BMRLA)

2. To include the scheme in the Adults, Health and Wellbeing Capital Programme

3. To approve scheme implementation

88 Travis Gardens, is currently a residential care home run by Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humberside NHS Foundation Trust (RDASH) and provides residential care for 6 residents. The services at Travis Gardens were to be transformed to supported living service from 1st July 2019, subject to registration with CQC (Care Quality Commission). To register as a supported living service, CQC registration demands that the property requires a registered social landlord (RSL) to manage the property and support the tenants through assured leasehold agreements.

To directly award a residential care service contract to Walsingham Support at 88 Travis Gardens for a period of 12 months.

Approval of additional funding for an existing supported housing contract with Target Housing to support delivery of the Supported Lettings strand of the Rapid Rehousing Pathway funding secured from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Approval to use funding of £26,083 secured from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for the Council to vary an existing supported housing contract with Target Housing in order to support delivery of the Supported Lettings strand of the Rapid Rehousing Project for a period from 1st July to 31st March 2020.

The Consultation Institute have a national reputation for working effectively with Councils

To employ the Consultation Institute to work with the Council to make sure that appropriate and effective consultation is undertake in relation to developing and agreeing option for changes to social care charging arrangements.

The Adults Health and Well-being Service (AHWb) face a number of challenges in the current economic climate arising from demand due to an on-going ageing population, fragmented services and an increased cost pf delivering health and social care. As our local Place Plan documents we have a compelling vision where 'care and support will be tailored to community strengths to help Doncaster residents to maximise their independence, health and well-being'.

To backfill posts within the Adults, Health and Well-being Directorate to support the implementation of the MOSAIC case management system. The backfill costs will include the recruitment of 3 Community Care Officer posts and 2 external trainers.

The working arrangements of staff within the transactional team of the service currently equated to only 6FTE that work full time 37 hours a week and 1FTE who is on long term absence with no indication of return. The rest are either part time, term time etc.

Along with this there is also the added pressure of those in the transactional who need upskilling to ensure all can cover tasks required of the service such as PRP purchasing.

The additional members of staff will ensure that there is capacity to cover the requirements of the service until the service is fully established as well as meet the additional requirements some teams have to clear backlogs of work due to absence.

To increase capacity within the Business Support Transactional Team for 2 full time Business Support Officer Grade 5 fixed for 2 years initially and to be reviewed at that stage.

The Authority is committed to taking the land to market for housing development and as part of these proposals; the initial access will be via the new roundabout that was in installed as part of the waste transfer station at Kirk Sandal. The new road will open the site for the initial access into the SEND school with identified spurs for housing and the proposed new primary school.
The funding body, the DfE, would normally only fund the works within the red line boundary of the project, therefore the services up to this boundary will need to be paid for by the Authority. The estimated cost of this work was £180k, the DfE have exceptionally agreed to pay 50% of this cost, £95k, because the initial feasibility request did not highlight the need for this
commitment from ourselves to deliver the project. The remaining 50% would be funded by the Authority.
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Doncaster Council has submitted a bid to self-deliver a new special (SEND Communication and Interaction) free school on the vacant land behind Hungerhill school. The project will be part of the wider development of the site that includes over 500 houses and site for a new school and whilst the original plan was to run concurrent this is no longer possible because of different funding streams and priorities. The ESFA have offered a fixed budget for the red line boundary of the proposed school and as part of Doncaster’s commitment to the wider site and predicted receipts have agreed to commit £245k for the access road and services up the red line boundaries to support both projects.
ODR 1819030, signed on 10/10/18 approved the allocation of £150,000 to provide for the access road. This ODR is for the approval of £95,000 for the provision of services up to the red line boundary of the allocated site.

It had been previously agreed through ODR RE17 0031 that an internal Independent Travel Co-Ordinator would be in place within DMBC and the task of recruitment of the Travel Trainers (Travel Buddies) would be contracted out to an external company.

KEYFORT Group Ltd won the contract to supply Independent Travel Training TRainers to Doncaster Council. The contract ran from 1/12/17 until 31/05/2019. However by 12/07/18 no buddies had been recruited.

Following a meeting in June 2018, where the concerns of DMBC were voiced, and to establish an Action plan, an email was received from KEYFORT Group Ltd asking to be released from the contract on 09/07/18.

To accept KEYFORT Group's offer to be released from the Independent Training Contract.

The Department for Education gave permission for the Schools Forum to establish a central schools block DSG Expenditure budget of £1,000,000 to focus on two areas:-

*Access
*Safeguarding

The budget will deliver learning environment improvements within Schools, Academies, PRUs and Learning Centres and it is expected that a 10% contribution will be required towards any project.

To approve the following Safeguarding and Access capital allocations which were approved by the Learning Provision Organisation Board (LPOB):-
School / Academy Description of Works Value (excluding a 10% school contribution)
Castle Hills Primary
Access Improvements
£718.20
St Albans Catholic Primary
Access Improvements
£30,172.62
Arksey Primary
Security Fencing
£21,373.87
Bentley New Village Primary
Security Fencing
£2,673.00
Hall Cross Academy (Lower Site)
Security Fencing
£15,311.61
Hall Cross Academy (Upper Site)
Security Fencing
£1,665.00
Hillside Academy
Security Fencing
£12,865.88
Mallard Primary
Security Fencing
£4,023.77
Sandringham Primary
Security Fencing
£3,718.94
Scawsby Rosedale Primary
Security Fencing
£7,024.68
St Peter’s Catholic Primary
Security Fencing
£4,050.00
Sunnyfields Primary
Security Fencing
£5,445.00
Hillside Academy
Secure Reception
£14,320.40 TOTAL £123,362.97

In addition to the above funding allocations, the Board approved two projects for Plover Primary within Round 1. Due to minor changes to original specification / quotations and no previous funding released, funding approval is required as below: School / Academy Description of Works Value (excluding a 10% school contribution)
Plover Primary
Door Entry Systems
£3,048.12
Plover Primary
Security Fencing
£16,971.68 TOTAL £20,019.80

The Board approved a request for Security Fencing at Tickhill St Mary’s C of E Primary & Nursery School within Round 3. It has been identified additional works are required to
cut back additional foliage from the fence line & dispose off-site to ensure all school land is sited and secured with the School Boundary - therefore additional funding is required as below:
School / Academy Description of Works Value (excluding a 10% school contribution)
Tickhill St Mary’s C of E Primary & Nursery School
Security Fencing
1,513.35 TOTAL £1,513.35

At the request of the schools forum the Department for Education / Secretary of State gave permission to establish a central schools block DSG Expenditure budget to focus on two areas:-

*Access
* Safeguarding

The budget is provided to deliver learning environment improvements within schools, academies, PRUs and Learning Centres and it is expected that a 10% contribution will be required towards any project.

Schools forum delegated responsibility for administering the funds through the Learning Provision Organisation Board and initial requests were considered on 10 October 2018.

The Board discussed each application on a case by case basis.

To approve the following Safeguarding and Access capital allocation which was provisionally approved by the Learning Provision Organisation Board (LPOB) on the 9 November 2017 pending site visit and quotation.

School Works Value
Hawthorne Academy Security Fencing £9361.80

At the request of the Schools Forum the Department for Education gave permission to establish a central schools block DSG expenditure budget to focus on two areas:-

* Access
* Safeguarding

The budget is provided to deliver learning environment improvements within schools, academies, PRUs and Learning Centres and it is expected that a 10% contribution will be required towards any project.

It is expected the funding will be allocated over a 3 year period with a review and progression report.

To approve the following safeguarding and access capital allocations which were approved by the Learning Provision Organisation (LPOB) Safeguarding and Access Subgroup on the 10th October 2018:-

School - Works - Value
Northbridge Enterprise College - Security Fencing - £9409.04

The appointment of a Transport Assessment Officer will mitigate a lot of risks involved with decisions regarding travel arrangements.

The aim of the new role is to review existing and historical travel arrangements with a view to reducing the incidence of single use taxis.

The Officer will work with stakeholders to encourage the use of personal budgets and other travel assistance options.

The officer will provide a professional assessment and review of individual pupils with SEND's home to school transport arrangements

Recommendation of SEND pupils to undertake independent travel training as appropriate.

Assessment of individuals progress towards independent travel.

To appoint a Transport Assessment Officer for an initial period of 12 months with a view to the post being made permanent and self funding as a result of the savings made.

Doncaster Council has submitted a bid to deliver a new special school (Bader School - SEN Free School) on vacant land behind Hungerhill School.

At Cabinet on 18 July, 2017, authority was delegated to the DIrector of People and Chief Financial Officer in consultation with Portfolio Holder Children Young People and Schools to negotiate with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (Now the Department for Education) to deliver the building of the school as well as the effective set up of an effective school delivery model in conjunction with the agreed provider.

Agree to release the capital budget for the delivery of the Bader School (SEN Free School) to enter into contract with Willmott Dixon in two stages with delegated Authority for spend to the Director of People and the Chief Financial Officer in consultation with the Mayor:-
Stage 1 - For the construction of new road and associated services to the red line boundary;
Stage 2 - For the construction and delivery of the school within the red line boundary following receipt of Capital Approval from the Department of Education.

There is a continued focus for travel training in England. The Department for Transport's latest 2018 consultation on accessible transport has shown that the government is still looking to identify and support travel training, mentoring and buddying schemes. The SEND Code of Practice (2015), also states that education and training should include help to develop skills for work, including independent travel training.

To approve the Repurposing of Service Transformation Funding for Independent Travel Training.