NURSERY OWNERS FEAR FOR FUTURE
Plans could spell doom for businesses
Stirling Council is forging ahead with nursery education expansion plans despite claims some private nurseries risk being put out of business.
There was controversy at last Thursday’s meeting of its children and young people committee when the SNP-Labour administration approved proposals - despite opposition councillors saying they had been contacted by a number of private nurseries who work as partners to the council.
The nursery owners were said to be worried the proposed plan could squeeze them out and threaten the long term viability of their businesses, ultimately reducing options for local families not enhancing them.
Some claimed they had the capacity to provide the additional nursery hours under the Scottish Government’s scheme more cheaply than Stirling Council, saving money for council tax payers.
At the committee meeting attended by some of the owners Tory councillors Alistair Berrill and Martin Earl proposed deferring a decision to allow more time for fuller consultation.
The Tories said no effort was made to discuss the issue with them during a recess called by SNP convener Councillor Susan McGill and ultimately the administration outvoted the Tories and Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache, making only a minor amendment to say that they would “keep the issue under review”.
Councillor Berrill said: “I thought they looked as though they had been caught on the hop. We wanted to ensure the partner nurseries were properly involved and getting a fair
deal. This could easily have been done without threatening the overall rollout.
“When serious concerns are raised like this they should be listened to and properly addressed, the council administration decided not to heed that and ploughed ahead regardless.”
Councillor Earl added: “This perverse decision could cost money for council tax payers, while reducing parental choice and potentially forcing some nurseries out of business.
“All we were asking for was a short delay so the nursery owners’ concerns could be discussed, and their alternative proposals carefully considered.”
Councillor McGill, however, said this week the Tories were just seeking “to undermine the SNP’s transformational childcare initiative” and the continued review of implementation of the plan and regular updates to committee were designed to highlight any challenges that emerged through the phased process.
She added: “An enormous amount of work has been undertaken by Stirling Council officers, including extensive consultation with families, carers, and partner providers – but predictably the Tories can only find fault with a policy that has been widely welcomed.
“To support private nursery providers, the historical cap on placements within partner providers will be removed – as many more places will be required in the private sector to accommodate this significant expansion.
“This, along with an increase in funding through the partnership arrangements, demonstrates that our partner providers have a key role to play within the expansion plan, and that the Tory criticism of these proposals is entirely unfounded.
“This is a sensible approach which will support working families and boost local nursery providers, and the Tory whining just shows their lamentable lack of understanding of this important issue.”