Meeting documents

Details of Cabinet Member interests in District, Town and Parish Councils will be displayed in the meeting room. The Statutory Register of Member’s Interests can be inspected via the Community Governance team.

The Chair will allow members of the public to present a petition on any matter within the Cabinet’s remit. Questions or statements about any matter on the agenda for this meeting may be taken at the time when each matter is considered.

To consider the report.

Following consideration of the officer report, impact assessment, business case and discussion the Cabinet RESOLVED to:

1.     Approve the recommendations within the attached Business Case attached at Appendix A for establishing a Regional Adoption Service (Adopt South West Regional Adoption Agency)

2.     Approve the delegation of the County Council’s statutory and legal functions relating to adoption services (as set out in Appendix 2 of the attached Business Case) to Devon County Council which will host the proposed Adopt South West Regional Adoption Agency. As host authority Devon County Council will provide:

·       Leadership for all adoption services across the RAA

·       Recruitment, assessment and training of adopters

·       Post Adoption support for all children within the designated boundaries.

·       Oversight of Adoption Support Fund applications

·       Family finding and matching child with adopter

·       Agency Decision Maker for the adopters

·       Adoption support for any child that moves out the RAA area, for a period of 3 years.

·       Quality assurance framework for adoption

·       Accountability for the adoption service aspect of a Local Authority Ofsted inspection framework.

·       Any associated procurement activity required by the Regional Adoption Agency

3.     Authorise the Director of Children’s Services and Director of Finance, Legal and Governance to finalise and agree the proposed Inter Authority Agreement and any other appropriate legal agreements with Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council in order for the proposed services set out within this report and its appendix to be provided by the Regional Adoption Agency.

4.     Agree to the transfer of Staff under TUPE regulations to Devon County Council and authorises the Director of Children’s Services and HR & OD Director to complete all necessary actions that required to support the delivery of the adoption services by the Regional Adoption Agency.

5.     Note the retained functions as set out in Appendix 2 of the attached Business Case and that the commissioning of the adoption services will still be undertaken by the Director of Childrens Services.

6.     Note that an annual report on the performance of the Regional Adoption Agency will be provided to the Cabinet Member for Children and Families and the Scrutiny Committee for Children and Families. 

To consider the report.

Following consideration of the officer report, appendices and discussion the Cabinet RESOLVED to:

1.     Approve the revised Local Memorandum of Understanding (including the Constitution of the SRA) attached as Appendix D;

2.     Note the outstanding issue regarding risk sharing across the partnership and note the actions proposed.

3.     Agree the case (set out in ‘legal implications’ for exempt information) for Appendix C to be treated in confidence, as the case for the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing that information.

4.     Approve the SRA Budget for 2018/19, (Appendix A) in accordance with the recommendations of the SRA Board from its meeting on the 7^th of March 2018

5.     To the release of funding committed from all sources in 2018/19 for the purposes of the SRA, subject to receipt of those funds, in accordance with the budget for 2018/19 as set out in item 4 above;

6.     To provide forward funding in advance of drawing down Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Deal funding to support the delivery of the Enhanced Programme (Appendix B and C (confidential)).

7.     That the detailed management of the 2017/18 Budget and Enhanced Programme within the control total allocated to the SRA is undertaken in accordance with the constitutional, financial regulations and decision making arrangements of SCC as accountable body. 

The Chair may raise any items of urgent business.