In the last two weeks, I have continued my intensive work to support Pen Green Children's Centre in Corby in relation to their funding. This included further intensive meetings with Pen Green's leadership team, with Will Quince MP, the Minister for Children and Families at the Department for Education (DfE), and a conversation with Councillor Jason Smithers, the Leader of North Northamptonshire Council.
My approach across the past few weeks has been to ensure that Pen Green's leadership, local parents and the wider Corby community's concerns have been heard loud and clear by the relevant authorities and I was pleased that North Northamptonshire Council have responded positively to our concerted campaign. The decision reached by the Council last week secures the majority of Pen Green's funding for the next year - a drastic difference from the proposals that could have cut up to 78% of its overall budget. That said, I still maintain the broad principles I set out in my recent update video, which you can see here, https://fb.watch/caO7TuAgDP/, are correct, and we should continue to explore ways to make up the outstanding difference.
With that in mind, going forward, I will continue to play my part in representing the interests of all of those in our community who rely on the invaluable, practical support the centre provides. That includes urging the two new unitary authorities in the county to work through the allocation instructions for the DfE around the overall funding pot for Northamptonshire, better reflecting local needs, as recognised prior to the abolition of the County Council - and to avoid being in exactly the same position again next year. There are also a number of outstanding questions that I am working with Pen Green to try and obtain answers to.
An interesting development also occurred over the weekend, that is arguably very relevant to this debate. North Northamptonshire has been included in the 75 areas receiving new 'Family Hub' support from the Government, sharing a £302 million pot nationally. It seems to me that Pen Green is superbly placed to hit the ground running and make this a huge success in Corby - and North Northamptonshire more widely - building on its already widely renowned best practice. I'll be strongly making that case to North Northamptonshire Council in the days and weeks ahead. More details about the announcement can be found, here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/family-hubs-and-start-for-life-package-methodology-for-pre-selecting-local-authorities.
Everyone in Corby knows just how important Pen Green is to our community and I really appreciate everyone who has got in touch to show their support. I've always stood up for Pen Green - and will continue to do so.