Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval for Surrey County Council to enter into an agreement to establish a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) with three other local authorities, Brighton and Hove City Council, East and West Sussex County Councils.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee]

RESOLVED:

1.    That Surrey County Council’s participation in (the creation of) a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) to be known as Adoption South East (ASE) in partnership with Brighton and Hove City Council, and East and West Sussex County Councils was agreed.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families to take any action necessary or incidental to the above including entering into and signing off the Partnership Agreement and any other agreement between Surrey County Council and the participating Authorities in order for the Regional Adoption arrangement to be implemented by 2020 was agreed.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families to agree transfer of the Council’s contribution to the pooled RAA budget, in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement was agreed.

Reason for Decision:

In response to the Action Plan for Adoption and alongside many other Councils Surrey County Council, in conjunction with Brighton and Hove City Council, East and West Sussex County Councils has developed a proposal to deliver its adoption services via a RAA. The Government has a power through the Education and Adoption Act 2016 which allows it to direct a Local Authority to join a Regionalised Adoption Agency if it has not already done so by 2020.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee]

Cabinet considered a report that sought approval for Surrey County Council to enter into an agreement to establish a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) with three other local authorities, Brighton and Hove City Council, East and West Sussex County Councils.  The Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families explained that a hub and spoke model would be used and that East Sussex CC would support the hub with the other council’s being spokes.  She also reported that East Sussex CC adoption service was rated as outstanding.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Surrey County Council’s participation in (the creation of) a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) to be known as Adoption South East (ASE) in partnership with Brighton and Hove City Council, and East and West Sussex County Councils was agreed.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families to take any action necessary or incidental to the above including entering into and signing off the Partnership Agreement and any other agreement between Surrey County Council and the participating Authorities in order for the Regional Adoption arrangement to be implemented by 2020 was agreed.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families to agree transfer of the Council’s contribution to the pooled RAA budget, in accordance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement was agreed.

Reason for Decision:

In response to the Action Plan for Adoption and alongside many other Councils Surrey County Council, in conjunction with Brighton and Hove City Council, East and West Sussex County Councils has developed a proposal to deliver its adoption services via a RAA. The Government has a power through the Education and Adoption Act 2016 which allows it to direct a Local Authority to join a Regionalised Adoption Agency if it has not already done so by 2020.

The decision was unanimous.