- First images of ‘new’ Riverside pool site unveiled
- Residents thanked for hospice generosity
- New grants to promote energy efficiency
- Station redevelopment plans approved
- Christmas waste and recycling collections
- Schools top national results tables
- Christmas and new year opening hours
- One step closer to ‘Achieving for Children’
- Borough’s bloomers praised by Mayor
- Residents asked about future plan for Twickenham
- Listening to Twickenham businesses
- Richmond calls for Government action on metal theft
- Robo-Attack at the Riverside Gallery
- Keep safe this Christmas
- Riverside jewel to be borough's latest open space
- Council with community at its heart
- Christmas cheer for older residents
- Crane Park Christmas present for residents
- Borough on the way to recovery
- Children with autism get special screening at Richmond Cinema
- Hampton families invited for sneak preview at new family centre
- Rocking at the Urban Christmas Carol
- Mr Marc Cranfield Adams
- Deck the Halls with the Garden Gang
- Residents invited to create local anthology about Barnes
- High quality secondary education for all
- Attention! Kneller Hall available for weddings
Release Date: 16/12/2011
One step closer to "Achieving for Children"
The Council is taking another step towards its goal of establishing a social enterprise company to provide Children’s Services, following the approval of a Cabinet report last night.
Working jointly with the Royal Borough of Kingston, the Council has been investigating the feasibility of jointly providing services for its children in its children’s services department as part of a plan that could save Richmond Council £2m.
A joint service would have a number of benefits, including reduced management costs, greater potential for innovation from economies of scale, and better opportunities for staff development, leading to a better trained and more stable workforce.
Officers from both Councils have been looking at the financial viability of creating an organisation that would operate at arms length of the Council and be able to trade with other boroughs.
The feasibility work, however, has identified a potential problem in relation to taxation. The intention is to make a case to Government for relaxation of the particular rule and in the meantime proceed to establish a joint service known as ‘Achieving for Children’ from April 2012. It is hoped that services can be brought into a joint arrangement by September 2012.
Cllr Christine Percival, Richmond Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Culture, said:
“Earlier this year, leaders and chief executives of five south London boroughs signed a Memorandum of Understanding which paved the way to greater co-operation up to and including jointly run services.
“We have already agreed that a number of Council services, for example our human resources, audit and legal services be provided jointly with other authorities.
“Achieving for Children would bring together two outstanding children’s services, delivering better results for children, young people and their families. It will not only result in savings, but also ensure that we maximise the effectiveness of our resources, with an increased customer focus and ability to provide more seamless services across two borough boundaries – all whilst protecting the quality and scope of our front line services.
“However, as a stand alone business, it must be able to be financially viable and meet all our statutory duties. We still have work to do to get over the taxation hurdles, but are committed to getting there.
“This is an exciting venture for the Council and one that will ensure high quality services and better outcomes for children in both Richmond upon Thames and Kingston.”
At Cabinet last night members agreed to continue working on these proposals and a further report will go to Cabinet in early 2012.
View the full press release
Bookmark this press release
What are these?