Agenda item

To consider Report.

Note – the Chair will allow 30 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee considered a report regarding the proposed changes to the Regional Adoption Agency (Adopt South West).

This sought the Committees’ views on the request from Cornwall Council to join the Regional Adoption Agency; the request from Adopt South West to revise the funding formula for each Council’s contribution to the agency; the options in terms of the timescale for phasing in any agreed change in funding arising from a change in formula.

The Committee was generally supportive of the proposal and that the position re Isle of Scilly (Ofsted judgement) be included in the decision making report.

The Committee considered a report presented by the Council’s Service Director, Children and Families Jayne Shelbourne- Barrow regarding the proposed changes to the Regional Adoption Agency (Adopt South West). The Independent Chair of the Operational Board, Alison Davis and Service Manager, Cornwall Council, Julie Goodwin also attended the meeting.

The paper sought the Committees’ views on:-

(a)  the request from Cornwall Council to join the Regional Adoption Agency – Ms Shelbourne-Barrow explained Somerset Council is on the governance board and has been fully engaged in the discussions and there are no issues from Somerset’s perspective to Cornwall Council joining, it has outstanding Adoption Services and Ofsted and will open up other adopters as well;

(b)  the request from Adopt South West to revise the funding formula for each Council’s contribution to the agency – Ms Shelbourne-Barrow said that the funding formula has been revisited and feel that it does reflect activity and will increase the Council’s contribution financially, which has been budgeted and noted;

(c)  the options in terms of the timescale for phasing in any agreed change in funding arising from a change in formula - Ms Shelbourne-Barrow said that Somerset’s preference had been for 3-year phasing however the consensus had been for a two year phasing, which the Directors agreed.

The Committee asked a number of questions and made a number of comments which were responded to at the meeting, as follows:

·         with regard to the formula adjustment – will relook at Cornwall’s contribution as well (if they join)? – the funding formula does reflect proposed activity; will review this after 3 years, to ensure have got the percentages right.

·         Clarification requested on the percentage figures detailed on page 5 of the report  -  it was agreed that further clarification would be provided and circulated to the Committee.

·         Query about the position re Isle of Scilly following their recent Ofsted judgment -  noted they have been linked to Essex on improvement journey who have good record of supporting council’s.

·         Query about the ‘gain’ for Somerset – around delivering better adoption services as part of Adopt South West – this opens up opportunities for more adopters which is positive.

The Committee was generally supportive of the proposal and asked that the position re Isle of Scilly (Ofsted judgement) be included in the decision-making report.