Issue - meetings

The Committee considered a report which sought approval from Executive to formally enter into the ‘Ambitious for Adoption, CORAM Capital’ Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) arrangement via a joint contract between the participating local authorities and CORAM for a six year contract with two extension options of two years (6+2+2).  The annual value of the contract for Bromley was £386k with a whole life value of £3.86m.

In response to a question, the Head of Adoption and Fostering confirmed that as a result of the regionalisation of adoption services the Bromley Fostering and Adoption panel would no longer exist.  There was no specific role for Members on the new Regional Adoption Panel; current Members had been given the opportunity to apply as Independent Members of the regional panel and no applications were submitted.  Members would continue to have involvement in the Bromley Fostering Panel.

In response to a question concerning scrutiny of the proposals, the Director of Children’s Social Care confirmed that the Education, Children and Families Select Committee had been kept updated.  Legislation required changes to adoption services to be implemented and since the initial report to the Executive in 2017 work had been continuously ongoing.  The Head of Fostering and Adoption reported that if the Executive were minded to take the decision Bromley would be the first London Borough to go live.

The report had been scrutinised by the Executive, Resources and Contracts PDS Committee at its meeting on14th May 2019, and the Committee supported the recommendations.

RESOLVED: that

a)  Bromley Council enter into the ‘Ambitious for Adoption, CORAM Capital’ RAA arrangements via a joint contract with participating local authorities for a period of six years with two extension options of two years each, commencing 1 June 2019 at an annual value of £386k and a whole life value of £3.86M;

b)  Authority be delegated to the Director of Children’s Social Care, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, the Director of Corporate Services, the Director of Finance and the Assistant Director Governance & Contracts, to finalise suitable contractual arrangements (including any relevant TUPE requirements) between the participating boroughs and the service provider to form the RAA; and to approve the available extension options at the due time.