Childcare boost as providers set to secure leases

Councillors asked to give green- light to 10- year deals

TWO long- term leases are set to be agreed with ch i ldcare providers allowing them to use council buildings. Councillors will be asked to approve 10- year leases for facilities in Jordanhill and Yoker during a meeting on Thursday.

The Buddies Clubs and Services charity currently operates in the Southbrae Centre, Jordanhill, and has successfully bid to continue providing early learning and childcare services from the building.

Private operator Dornal Childcare has been chosen to deliver services from the Donald Dewar Centre on Dornal Avenue.

Buddies, which was established almost 25 years ago to provide leisure and social opportunities for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs, relocated to the Southbrae Centre, at the junction of Southbrae Drive and Anniesland Road, from an alternative council premises.

It will be used as a nursery and as an after- school facility and has been fitted with toilets, offices and kitchens.

The 10- year lease had been proposed to be £ 27,500 per year but has been discounted by 50% as Buddies is a charity. There will be a rent review after five years.

Dornal Childcare is part of the Primrose group of nurseries, which currently trades in Maryhill and in Dennistoun. A council report stated the company has “experience of operating in areas with challenging educational disadvantage”.

“Subject to receipt of formal Care Inspectorate registration, the operator intends to be open for trading at the Donald Dewar Centre in January 2021 and will provide a much- needed early learning and childcare provision for the area,” the report added.

The building was previously used as a day- care centre but was refurbished by the council so it could be used a nursery or early years facility.

It has “the ability to be operated separately from the neighbouring Clyde Campus school estate, which houses both Clyde Primary School and St Brendan’s Primary School”, the council report stated.

There will be a £ 22,500 per year rent over the 10 years of the lease.

As a private company, the operator was discount.

At Thursday’s meeting, councillors are also expected to award a £ 12.3m contract to City Building for the construction of three new nurseries. The early learning and childcare facilities are planned for Tollcross, Carntyne and Govanhill.

They are being developed to help the council meet the Scottish Government’s commitment to provide 1140 hours of statutory childcare for three and four- year- olds and eligible two- year- olds. not entitled to a

The operator intends to be open for trading in January 2021