Decision details

To offer support for Carlton Pre-school through a temporary variation to the concessionary price hire charge at Richard Herrod Centre given the current financial challenges the Pre-school is facing.

To offer a 50% reduction to the concessionary price hire charge at Richard Herrod Centre for Carlton Pre-school for the period 05/06/23 to 21/07/23.

Carlton Pre-school, a hirer at Richard Herrod Centre, is currently offered the concessionary hire rate, as a registered charity. This is a discount of 50% below the standard hire rate.

Nottinghamshire County Council has confirmed the Pre-school offers funded childcare places to those eligible, supports both vulnerable children and those with Special Educational Needs. This decision is to support the pre-school after it has reported financial challenges to its ongoing operations. The Early Years sector is facing a number of challenges that the Pre-school is facing the full effect of. There has been a real terms drop in the Government funded Early Years place rate when increases in staffing costs are considered, such as the increase in minimum wage.

Nottinghamshire County Council is awaiting confirmation from Government of the funding rates for free childcare places from September 2023.

This decision provides some short-term support for the childcare setting for the remainder of this academic year.

Not to offer a price variation for this temporary period. Despite a significant increase in utility costs for the Richard Herrod Centre since last financial year, is it deemed appropriate to support the pre-school in the current circumstances given the financial pressures it has reported to both Nottinghamshire County Council and Gedling Borough Council in recent weeks. The hire fee reduction is for the final half-term of this academic year.