Slough Council to take on children’s service
Slough: Independent trust to be wholly owned by council, including its £5m debt
An independent children’s service is to be ‘wholly owned’ by Slough Borough Council as senior councillors agree to take on its £5.5million debt.
Cabinet members agreed to enter a five-year contract, extendable by two years, with the Slough Children’s Service Trust (SCST), which is an independent company but is funded by the council and the Department for Education (DfE).
This will take effect from April 1 and includes changing its name to Slough Children First Limited and moving into the council’s headquarters, the Observatory House.
However, this new ownership of the company would mean absorbing SCST’s £5.5million debt.
Around £2.4million will be
covered by the council’s capitalisation directive – which could involve selling off one of the council’s assets and using the capital funds to fill this financial hole – while the DfE will cover the remaining deficit.
The council will also give the company a start-up loan of £5million, which is to be repaid within 30 days, for its day-today operations.
Speaking at the cabinet meeting on Monday, March 15, council leader James Swindlehurst (Lab, Cippenham Green) said this takeover will give the local authority better monitoring and ‘reassurance’ of the Trust’s spending and budget setting.
Eleni Ioannides, interim executive director of people (children), called this takeover a ‘significant milestone’ as it will bring the council and the trust into an integrated system for Slough’s children.
This would involve swapping to a council-owned operating model as well as ‘marrying up’ early help and children’s social care.
The council hopes this takeover will also improve SCST’s previous Ofsted rating of ‘requires improvement to be good’ when the rebranded company is inspected.
Ms Ioannides said: “This is a significant step forward to give the new company a new slate and with the ability to really make a difference.”
Cllr Swindlehurst added: “The staff have already moved into our headquarters in Observatory House, and I think it’s the beginning of a real feeling that we’re part of one organisation again – despite the fact that we want to give the company its operational freedoms and independence.
“The point is they should still feel part of the council family and part of the desire to deliver shared services together for the benefit and best outcomes for our children.”
‘This is a significant step forward to really make a difference’
Legoland Windsor’s new ‘multi-million pound’ attraction is set to open this May.
The Flight of the Sky Lion will be part of the theme park’s new Mythica: World of Mythical Creatures land.
The ride stands at 25 metres tall and will be the park’s single biggest investment since it opened its gates 25 years ago. The Sky Lion will be created from 685,530 Lego bricks.
Approval for the new attraction, which will be built on greenbelt land, was given by the Royal Borough last January.
Legoland claims the new
ride will be the UK’s ‘first flying theatre ride’.
During the ride guests will be transported under Maximum the Sky Lion’s wing to Mythica, where the mythical Lego creatures, such as the two-headed Hydra and Fire and Ice Bird come to life.
The ride is due to open on May 29, subject to lockdown restrictions easing as set out in the roadmap.
Legoland said it spent a year discussing the new ride and testing concepts and ideas
with kids aged seven to 11 who had a say in the names and characters involved.
Helen Bull, divisional director at the Legoland Windsor Resort, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing the first Flying Theatre ride to the UK and today revealing all the rides and attractions which will make Lego Mythica: World of Mythical Creatures a must-do experience for families in
2021.
“The whole country has never needed escapism more
than they do right now and we’ve worked closely with children and their families to make sure our new land delivers the thrills for everyone, whether it’s their 25th visit to Legoland Windsor or their very first.
“Subject to Government guidelines, we’re planning to open Lego Mythica on Saturday, May 29 and tickets are on sale now to experience the country’s first Flying Theatre as well as everything else the park has to offer.”