Indigo Shire Council has voted unanimously to extend the lease of the current Beechworth childcare centres at their Mayday Hills site, months after being told they would be cast out for a new provider.
Councillors met on Tuesday afternoon to vote on recommendations to terminate the Expression Of Interest (EOI) process for a new provider and extend current occupancy agreements following the withdrawal of the chosen provider, Alpine Children’s Services, in April.
Current providers Beechworth Community Early Years Learning Centre (BCEYLC) and Beechworth Kindergarten made a joint proposal to council last week to remain at Mayday Hills and for council to enter negotiations with both providers to extend current lease arrangements.
At the meeting, council's evaluation found the remaining EOI proposals failed to provide a suitable outcome that aligned to the intent of the EOI and met the need of broader community interests and expectations.
Mayor Sophie Price said council was taking immediate action to provide certainty for local families, rather than continue with the EOI process.
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"Our priority is ensuring Beechworth families have access to quality childcare and kindergarten services," she said.
Councillor Scott Landells carried the motion to terminate the EOI which was seconded by councillor Jane Dowsley.
Cr Landells said it was appropriate to end the process.
“We can all be experts in hindsight but this is an opportunity to be informed by hindsight and make a sound long-term decision that meets the broader early childhood goals here in Beechworth,” he said.
“There’s a bigger discussion to be had here and I look forward having this item come before our next council meeting at the end of July.”
Cr Dowsley defended council’s EOI process and remained satisfied with council’s decision to award the lease to Alpine Children’s Services, but agreed long-term certainty needed to be addressed.
“This process has caused stress to many people, those who supported council’s decision and those that support both existing tenants,” she said.
“I look forward to resolving this lease renewal as soon as possible… it has taken too long, and we need to provide long-term certainty for the community as soon as possible.”
Cr Price said the EOI process was “robust” and appropriate but the decision to terminate the EOI provided a clear path forward while council worked towards longer-term arrangements.
"We recognise how important these services are to our community and the stress that uncertainty causes families," she said.
Council has directed the CEO to engage with the current occupants, Beechworth Community Early Years Learning Centre and Beechworth Kindergarten, to explore new lease arrangements that would allow both services to continue operating at the site.
Cr Price said council was committed to working with both current operators and the broader community to ensure early years services continue to meet local demand and the requirements of the whole community.
An open forum was not permitted at Tuesday’s meeting, with councillors expecting question to be heard at the next meeting set for Tuesday, 29 July at Beechworth’s council chambers.
