Issue - decisions

The Executive considered a report on the future of the Family Support Programme within Surrey Heath. The Family Support Programme was currently delivered in partnership with Runnymede BC, with Surrey Heath employing the staff and managing the budgets for the Programme.

Members were reminded that the Programme was currently funded by the Government through a mixture of up front funding for each family worked with and payment by results.

From the end of March 2020 the Government funding would cease. However, within Surrey, the County Council had agreed to take over current levels of funding of £221,512 to ensure continuation of the programme. In addition, a further £95,666 of funding would be provided to Surrey Heath and Runnymede councils to support the employment of two qualified social workers, one for each of the teams.

Borough and district councils would need to make up any gap in funding for the total service delivery; for Surrey Heath and Runnymede this was estimated to be £178,000 in 2020/21.  Runnymede BC had agreed to contribute an additional £89,000 per financial year for 2020/21 and thereafter, leaving a shortfall of £89,000 in the revenue budget to be made up by this Council.

RESOLVED that

                         (i)        this Council continues to host the Family Support Programme for Runnymede and Surrey Heath Councils;

                        (ii)        that a Service Level Agreement for the service beyond 2020 be entered into with Surrey County Council, and authority to sign this Agreement be delegated to the Executive Head of Regulatory in consultation with the Support & Safeguarding Portfolio Holder; and

                      (iii)        that funding of £89,000 per year for the programme be agreed for inclusion in the revenue budget for 2020/21 and thereafter.